System and method for settling funds transfers between different gaming establishment accounts maintained by different gaming establishments

ABSTRACT

A system and method that facilitates the transferring of funds between different financial institution accounts based on the transferring of funds between different gaming establishment accounts associated with different gaming establishments.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The technical field of the present disclosure is that of systems andmethods that transfer funds between different financial institutionaccounts based on the transferring of funds between different gamingestablishment accounts associated with different gaming establishments.

BACKGROUND

Gaming machines may provide players awards in primary games. Gamingmachines generally require the player to place a wager to activate theprimary game. The award may be based on the player obtaining a winningsymbol or symbol combination and on the amount of the wager.

BRIEF SUMMARY

In certain embodiments, the present disclosure relates to a systemincluding a processor, and a memory device that stores a plurality ofinstructions. When executed by the processor, the instructions cause theprocessor to maintain a first gaming establishment account inassociation with a user. When executed by the processor responsive to agaming establishment account transfer event occurring in associationwith the first gaming establishment account, the instructions cause theprocessor to communicate data associated with a request of an amount offunds to be transferred from a second gaming establishment accountmaintained in association with the user to the first gamingestablishment account, wherein the first gaming establishment account isassociated with a first financial institution account associated with afirst gaming establishment and the second gaming establishment accountis associated with a second, different financial institution accountassociated with a second gaming establishment. When executed by theprocessor responsive to an approval of the request of the amount offunds to be transferred from the second gaming establishment account,the instructions cause the processor to modify a balance of the firstgaming establishment account based on the amount of funds, wherein themodification of the balance of the first gaming establishment accountresults in each of a modification of a balance of the second gamingestablishment account based on the amount of funds transferred to thefirst gaming establishment account, a modification of a balance of thefirst financial institution account based on the amount of fundstransferred from the second gaming establishment account, and amodification of a balance of the second financial institution accountbased on the amount of funds transferred to the first gamingestablishment account.

In certain embodiments, the present disclosure relates to a systemincluding a processor, and a memory device that stores a plurality ofinstructions. When executed by the processor responsive to adetermination to transfer an amount of funds from a first gamingestablishment account maintained in association with a user to a secondgaming establishment account maintained in association with the user,the instructions cause the processor to communicate first data to aserver of a first gaming establishment fund management system, andcommunicate second data to a server of a second gaming establishmentfund management system, wherein the communicated first data results in adeduction of the amount of funds from the first gaming establishmentaccount, and the communicated second data results in an increase of theamount of funds in the first gaming establishment account. When executedby the processor responsive to the determination to transfer the amountof funds from the first gaming establishment account maintained inassociation with the user to the second gaming establishment accountmaintained in association with the user, the instructions cause theprocessor to communicate third data to a server of a first financialinstitution account associated with a first gaming establishment, andcommunicate fourth data to a server of a second, different financialinstitution account associated with a second gaming establishment,wherein the communicated third data results in a deduction of the amountof funds from the first financial institution account and thecommunicated fourth data results in an increase of the amount of fundsin the second, different financial institution account.

In certain embodiments, the present disclosure relates to a method ofoperating a system including maintaining, by a processor, a first gamingestablishment account in association with a user. Responsive to a gamingestablishment account transfer event occurring in association with thefirst gaming establishment account, the method includes communicatingdata associated with a request of an amount of funds to be transferredfrom a second gaming establishment account maintained in associationwith the user to the first gaming establishment account, wherein thefirst gaming establishment account is associated with a first financialinstitution account associated with a first gaming establishment and thesecond gaming establishment account is associated with a second,different financial institution account associated with a second gamingestablishment. Responsive to an approval of the request of the amount offunds to be transferred from the second gaming establishment account,the method includes modifying, by the processor, a balance of the firstgaming establishment account based on the amount of funds, wherein themodification of the balance of the first gaming establishment accountresults in each of a modification of a balance of the second gamingestablishment account based on the amount of funds transferred to thefirst gaming establishment account, a modification of a balance of thefirst financial institution account based on the amount of fundstransferred from the second gaming establishment account, and amodification of a balance of the second financial institution accountbased on the amount of funds transferred to the first gamingestablishment account.

Additional features are described herein, and will be apparent from thefollowing Detailed Description and the figures.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1A is an example schematic configuration of the architecture of aplurality of different components of a gaming establishment fundmanagement system disclosed herein.

FIG. 1B is an example schematic configuration of the architecture of oneembodiment of a plurality of different components utilized to transferfunds between different gaming establishment accounts associated withdifferent financial institution accounts.

FIG. 1C is an example schematic configuration of the architecture ofanother embodiment of a plurality of different components utilized totransfer funds between different gaming establishment accountsassociated with different financial institution accounts.

FIG. 2A is an example schematic diagram of one embodiment of theinteractions between different gaming establishment fund managementsystems and different financial institutions to transfer funds betweendifferent gaming establishment accounts associated with differentfinancial institution accounts.

FIG. 2B is an example schematic diagram of another embodiment of theinteractions between different gaming establishment fund managementsystems and different financial institutions to transfer funds betweendifferent gaming establishment accounts associated with differentfinancial institution accounts.

FIG. 2C is an example schematic diagram of another embodiment of theinteractions between different gaming establishment fund managementsystems and different financial institutions to transfer funds betweendifferent gaming establishment accounts associated with differentfinancial institution accounts.

FIG. 3 is a schematic block diagram of one embodiment of an electronicconfiguration of an example gaming system disclosed herein.

FIGS. 4A and 4B are perspective views of example alternative embodimentsof the gaming system disclosed herein.

FIG. 4C is a front view of an example personal gaming device of thegaming system disclosed herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In various embodiments, the system and method disclosed hereinfacilitates the transferring of funds between different financialinstitution accounts based on the transferring of funds betweendifferent gaming establishment accounts associated with different gamingestablishments.

In certain embodiments, upon an occurrence of an event which causes thetransfer of an amount of funds from one gaming establishment accountassociated with a first gaming establishment to another gamingestablishment account associated with a second gaming establishment, thesystem causes a corresponding amount of funds to be transferred from onefinancial institution account associated with the first gamingestablishment to another financial institution account associated withthe second gaming establishment. In these embodiments, since certaingaming jurisdictions require that the amount of funds associated withone or more gaming establishment accounts maintained by a gamingestablishment for one or more users are secured by a correspondingamount of funds in one or more financial institution accounts for thegaming establishment, a transfer of funds to and/or from such gamingestablishment accounts may result in the one or more financialinstitution accounts not having the corresponding correct amount offunds. Accordingly, in certain embodiments, to reconcile such fundtransfers between different gaming establishment accounts associatedwith different gaming establishments (which are secured by differentfinancial institution accounts), the system disclosed hereinautomatically causes, either in association with each transfer of fundsbetween gaming establishment accounts or in association with a pluralityof transfers of funds between gaming establishment accounts, thetransfer of funds between the different financial institution accountsassociated with these different gaming establishments. These automatictransfers ensure that the respective amounts maintained in the differentgaming establishment accounts maintained by the gaming establishmentcomply with jurisdictional requirements by corresponding with theamounts maintained in the one or more associated financial institutionaccounts. Such a configuration of periodically transferring funds fromone financial institution account to another financial instructionsaccount (which is based on the transfer of funds from one gamingestablishment account to another gaming establishment account) enablesthe system to reconcile such fund transfers in accordance with variousregulatory requirements.

System Accounts

In various embodiments, the system disclosed herein includes a gamingestablishment fund management system including various components orsub-systems that are each associated with or otherwise maintain one ormore electronic or virtual accounts. In these embodiments, the variousgaming establishment accounts maintained for a user collectively form aresort or enterprise account (e.g., a gaming establishment fundmanagement account) for the user. That is, the collection of cashlesswagering accounts (e.g. cashless gaming establishment wagering wallets,cashless sports wagering wallets and/or cashless mobile wageringwallets) and gaming establishment retail accounts (e.g., gamingestablishment retail wallets) associated with or otherwise maintainedfor a user, such as a player and/or retail patron, collectively form aresort or enterprise account (i.e., an integrated resort or gamingestablishment fund management wallet) that the user may access totransfer funds and/or view balance information amongst the variousaccounts associated with or otherwise maintained for the user.

In certain embodiments, the system disclosed herein includes a singlegaming establishment fund management system which is associated with aplurality of gaming establishments and maintains one or more gamingestablishment accounts associated with a user for each associated gamingestablishment. In these embodiments, the different gaming establishmentaccounts associated with the user at the different gaming establishmentsare linked or otherwise associated with each other to enable an amountof funds maintained in association with a gaming establishment accountof one gaming establishment associated with the gaming establishmentfund management system to be transferred to another gaming establishmentaccount of another gaming establishment associated with the gamingestablishment fund management system.

In certain embodiments, the system disclosed herein includes a pluralityof gaming establishment fund management systems that are each associatedwith or otherwise maintain one or more gaming establishment fundmanagement accounts for a user. In these embodiments, two or more ofsuch gaming establishment fund management systems are linked orotherwise associated with each other to enable an amount of fundsmaintained in association with a gaming establishment account of onegaming establishment fund management system to be transferred to anothergaming establishment account of a linked gaming establishment fundmanagement system.

It should be appreciated that while one or more gaming establishmentsare each associated with the same or different gaming establishment fundmanagement system, in different embodiments, such gaming establishmentsmay be associated with a single property or multiple properties. Inthese embodiments, a gaming establishment associated with a gamingestablishment fund management system includes one or more gamingestablishment sites having one or more EGMs and/or associated with oneor more personal gaming devices that are within one or more designatedjurisdictions, states or territories. In these embodiments, a gamingestablishment site includes a single property where an EGM may operateand which may be associated with a group of one or more other gamingestablishment sites under a single gaming establishment brand within oneor more designated jurisdictions, states or territories.

In various embodiments, one or more of the gaming establishment fundmanagement systems each includes one or more cashless wagering systemsthat are each associated with or otherwise maintain one or more cashlesswagering accounts. In certain embodiments, the gaming establishment fundmanagement system includes a first cashless wagering system thatmaintains a first cashless wagering account. In these embodiments, auser, such as a player of a gaming establishment wagering device,utilizes a mobile device application running on a mobile device and/or aphysical instrument (e.g., a smart card or a player issued magneticstriped card which the player utilizes via inserting the card into aplayer tracking unit associated with a gaming establishment wageringdevice) to facilitate the electronic transfer of any funds between thisfirst cashless wagering account and a gaming establishment wageringdevice that offers wagering games, such as an electronic gaming machine(“EGM”) including, but not limited to, a slot machine, a video pokermachine, a video lottery terminal, a terminal associated with anelectronic table game, a terminal associated with a live table game, avideo keno machine, a video bingo machine located on a casino floorand/or a sports betting terminal (that offers wagering games and sportsbetting opportunities). For example, as seen in FIG. 1A, the gamingestablishment fund management system includes a first cashless wageringsystem (not shown) that maintains a Cashless Wagering Wallet 104 (e.g.,a first cashless wagering account) which is in communication with theresort wallet 102. In this example, to facilitate the transfer of fundsfrom this cashless wagering account to a credit balance of an EGM 106and/or a gaming table 108, the system utilizes a mobile device 110running a mobile device application that interfaces with one or morecomponents of the gaming establishment fund management system to enablea user, such as a player of the EGM or a player at the gaming table,access to this first cashless wagering account.

In certain embodiments, one or more of the gaming establishment fundmanagement systems each additionally or alternatively includes a secondcashless wagering system that maintains a second cashless wageringaccount. In these embodiments, funds associated with the second cashlesswagering account are utilized to place one or more sporting event wagersand/or wagers placed remote from an EGM and a gaming table. In suchembodiments, a user utilizes a mobile device application running on amobile device and/or a physical instrument (e.g., a smart card or aplayer issued magnetic striped card which the player utilizes viainserting the card into a kiosk) to facilitate the electronic transferof any funds between this second cashless wagering account and a creditbalance accessible to wager on games of chance, games of skill and/orsporting events remote from an EGM and a gaming table. For example, asseen in FIG. 1A, the gaming establishment fund management systemincludes a second cashless wagering system (not shown) that maintains aSports/Mobile Wagering Wallet 112 (e.g., a second cashless wageringaccount) which is in communication with the resort wallet 102. In thisexample, to facilitate the transfer of funds from this cashless wageringaccount to a credit balance associated with a sporting event wageringsystem (not shown) and/or a remote wagering system (not shown) to enablethe placement of one or more wagers on one or more games of chance, oneor more games of skill and/or one or more sporting events, the systemutilizes a mobile device 110 running a mobile device application thatinterfaces with one or more components of the gaming establishment fundmanagement system to enable a user, such as a player remote from thegaming establishment, access to this second cashless wagering account.

In various embodiments, in addition to or an alternative of maintainingone or more cashless wagering accounts via one or more cashless wageringsystems, one or more of the gaming establishment fund management systemseach includes one or more gaming establishment retail wallet systemsthat each maintain one or more gaming establishment retail accounts.Such a gaming establishment retail account (e.g., a gaming establishmentretail wallet) of a gaming establishment retail wallet system integrateswith various retail point-of-sale systems throughout the gamingestablishment (or located remote from the gaming establishment, butotherwise associated with the gaming establishment) to enable users topurchase goods and/or services via the user's gaming establishmentretail account. For example, as seen in FIG. 1A, the gamingestablishment fund management system includes a gaming establishmentretail wallet system (not shown) that maintains a Retail Wallet 114(e.g., a gaming establishment retail account) which is in communicationwith the resort wallet 102. In this example, to facilitate the transferof funds from this gaming establishment retail account to an accountassociated with a retailer to purchase goods and/or services from theretailer, the system utilizes retail wallet identity, such as a mobiledevice 110 running a mobile device application that interfaces with apoint-of-sale terminal 116 of a retail point-of-sale system 118 of theretailer, and one or more components of the gaming establishment fundmanagement system to enable a user access to this gaming establishmentretail account.

It should be appreciated that in various embodiments, a gamingestablishment retail account is a retail account associated with a userhaving a balance or a pre-paid access account which, per currentregulations from the U.S. Treasury Department Financial CrimesEnforcement Network (“FinCEN”), cannot be convertible to cash and canonly be used for the purchase of goods and/or services. In theseembodiments, such a gaming establishment retail account integrates withvarious retail point-of-sale systems of various retail establishmentsthroughout or otherwise associated with a gaming establishment to enableusers to purchase goods and/or services via the user's gamingestablishment retail account. That is, while an amount of fundsdeposited in a gaming establishment retail account may be used withvarious retail point-of-sale systems throughout the gaming establishment(or remote from, but otherwise associated with the gaming establishment)to enable users to purchase goods and/or services, such funds depositedin the gaming establishment retail account cannot be converted to cash.

In certain embodiments, one or more of the gaming establishment fundmanagement systems are each in communication with one or more externalfunding sources which maintain one or more external accounts for theuser. For example, as seen in FIG. 1A, the gaming establishment fundmanagement system that maintains the resort wallet 102 is incommunication with a network of one or more banks or other financialinstitutions (i.e., the banking networks 120) which operate toelectronically transfer funds from the user's accounts maintained assuch banks or financial institutions to one or more of the accountsmaintained by the gaming establishment fund management system. Incertain embodiments, such external accounts include, but are not limitedto, one or more checking accounts maintained by one or more financialinstitutions (e.g., one or more banks and/or credit unions), one or moresavings accounts maintained by one or more financial institutions, oneor more financial institution accounts, such as a brokerage account,maintained by one or more financial institutions, one or more creditcard accounts maintained by one or more financial institutions, one ormore debit card accounts maintained by one or more financialinstitutions, and/or one or more third-party maintained accounts (e.g.,one or more PayPal® accounts or Venmo® accounts). It should beappreciated that while illustrated as the gaming establishment fundmanagement system being in communication with one or more externalfunding sources, in different embodiments, any component or sub-systemdescribed herein can be in communication with one or more externalfunding sources. In different embodiments, the system utilizes a mobiledevice running a mobile device application, a kiosk, an EGM, a remotehost controller service window displayed by an EGM, a component of agaming establishment patron management system, such as a player trackingunit, and/or a gaming establishment interface to facilitate the transferof funds from a third-party account.

In certain embodiments (not shown), one or more of the gamingestablishment fund management systems (which maintains a gamingestablishment fund management account or resort wallet for a user) areeach in communication with one or more credit systems that each issuethe user one or more lines of credit or markers and/or one or morecredit reporting/credit risk systems that monitor and report on variousaccounts associated with the user. It should be appreciated that whiledescribed as the gaming establishment fund management system being incommunication with one or more credit systems and/or one or more creditreporting/credit risk systems, in different embodiments, any componentor sub-system described herein can be in communication with one or morecredit systems and/or one or more credit reporting/credit risk systems.

In certain embodiments, the system utilizes one mobile deviceapplication to interact with the different components of the gamingestablishment fund management system to access funds maintained in thedifferent gaming establishment accounts associated with the user. Forexample, utilizing the same mobile application, a mobile deviceinteracts with both the first cashless wagering system of the gamingestablishment fund management system and the gaming establishment retailwallet system of the gaming establishment fund management system. Incertain embodiments, the system utilizes multiple mobile deviceapplications to interact with the different components of the gamingestablishment fund management system to access funds maintained in thedifferent gaming establishment accounts associated with the user. Forexample, in addition to utilizing a mobile application to interact withdifferent systems of the gaming establishment fund management system,utilizing a sports/mobile wagering mobile application, a mobile deviceinteracts with the second cashless wagering system of the gamingestablishment fund management system. In certain of these embodiments,the mobile device application includes a location based digital walletenabled application, such as a Passbook-enabled or Wallet-enabledapplication, which is accessible when the player enters a gamingestablishment. In certain of such embodiments, the mobile deviceapplication is downloaded to the mobile device from an applicationstore. In certain of such embodiments, the mobile device application isdownloaded to the mobile device from one or more websites affiliatedwith the gaming establishment (which are accessible directly by the userand/or by a link opened when the user scans a QR code).

It should be appreciated that while illustrated in FIG. 1A as using amobile device running a mobile device application to access fundsassociated with different gaming establishment accounts, such as acashless wagering account and a gaming establishment retail account, aphysical instrument, such as a smart card or a user issued magneticstriped card may additionally or alternatively be utilized to enable auser access to such gaming establishment accounts. It should be furtherappreciated that in different embodiments, in addition to oralternatively from utilizing a mobile device running a mobile deviceapplication to access funds associated with different gamingestablishment accounts, the system utilizes a kiosk, an EGM, a remotehost controller service window displayed by an EGM, a component of agaming establishment patron management system, such as a player trackingunit, and/or a gaming establishment interface to access the fundsassociated with such gaming establishment accounts.

In certain embodiments, the creation of one or more gaming establishmentaccounts occurs via the system enabling a user or player to enroll insuch gaming establishment accounts. In one such embodiment, the systemenables a user or player to enroll or otherwise sign up for a gamingestablishment account via the user picking up an account card, such as aretail account card at various shopping locations throughout the gamingestablishment. In another such embodiment, the system enables a user orplayer to electronically enroll or otherwise sign up for a gamingestablishment account via a mobile application running on a mobiledevice, a point-of-sale terminal, an EGM and/or a kiosk. In another suchembodiment, the system enables a user or player to enroll or otherwisesign up for a gaming establishment account by adding another account,such as a gaming establishment retail account, to their existing playertracking account.

In certain embodiments, the creation of a gaming establishment accountoccurs enterprise wide upon a user (whom is not associated with a gamingestablishment account) attempting to use an amount of funds associatedwith the user (i.e., funds associated with the user's resort wallet orenterprise wallet) at a first site. In these embodiments, upon therequested use of the funds of the user's resort wallet from a componentof the system not otherwise linked to or associated with the user'sresort wallet, the system will create an enterprise wide gamingestablishment account associated with the requesting component of thesystem and one or more other components of the system (such as one ormore other individual sites of future attempted purchases). In certainembodiments, the creation of a gaming establishment account occurs viathe user attempting to use an amount of funds associated with the user(i.e., funds associated with the user's resort wallet or enterprisewallet) at an individual site which was not previously associated withthe user's resort wallet or enterprise wallet. In these embodiments,upon the requested use of the funds of the user's resort wallet from acomponent of the system not otherwise linked to or associated with theuser's resort wallet, the system will create a gaming establishmentaccount associated with the requesting component of the system. Forexample, if a user attempts to use funds from their resort wallet at agaming establishment retail location not previously linked to the user'sresort wallet, prior to the system employing such funds to purchase oneor more pre-paid cards to complete the retail transaction, the systemwill create a gaming establishment retail account for the gamingestablishment retail location and associate the created gamingestablishment retail account with the user's existing resort wallet.Such dynamic account creation provides users enhanced ease of use asthey can seamlessly use their existing resort wallet at various newsites or locations within or otherwise associated with one or moregaming establishments.

Funding Gaming Establishment Account

In various embodiments, prior to utilizing any funds maintained in agaming establishment account as described herein, an amount of fundsmust first be established or otherwise deposited in a gamingestablishment account, such as a gaming establishment fund managementaccount, a cashless wagering account and/or a gaming establishmentretail account. In other words, prior to the system enabling the use ofsuch funds, an amount of funds must first be deposited in or otherwisetransferred to an account.

In certain embodiments, a gaming establishment account maintained for auser in association with a first gaming establishment is associated withanother gaming establishment account maintained for the user inassociation with a second gaming establishment. In these embodiments,the system enables an amount of funds from one gaming establishmentaccount maintained for a user in association with a first gamingestablishment to be transferred to another gaming establishment accountmaintained for the user in association with a second gamingestablishment. That is, the system disclosed herein enables the transferof funds between different gaming establishment accounts (that aremaintained by the same or different gaming establishment fund managementsystems) associated with different gaming establishments or differentsites of the same gaming establishment. For example, upon a playerattempting to transfer an amount of funds from a cashless wageringaccount maintained by a cashless wagering system of a first gamingestablishment to an EGM at that first gaming establishment and thegaming establishment fund management system of that gaming establishmentdetermining that neither the cashless wagering account nor any otheraccounts maintained by the gaming establishment fund management systemfor that player in association with that first gaming establishment havethe requested amount of funds to transfer to the EGM, the systemdisclosed herein enables the gaming establishment fund management systemof that first gaming establishment to attempt to obtain the requestedamount of funds from another cashless wagering account maintained byanother cashless wagering system of another gaming establishment.

In certain embodiments, following a determination to transfer an amountof funds to a first gaming establishment account or balance maintainedby a first gaming establishment fund management system in associationwith a first gaming establishment from a second gaming establishmentaccount or balance maintained by a second gaming establishment fundmanagement system (which may be the same or different from the firstgaming establishment fund management system) in association with asecond gaming establishment, the system determines whether to authorizethe transfer of the determined amount of funds. In other words, upon thefirst gaming establishment fund management system of the first gamingestablishment determining that the first gaming establishment accountlacks adequate funds to complete one or more requested actions (asdescribed below), the first gaming establishment fund management systemrequests a transfer of funds from a second gaming establishment accountmaintained by a second gaming establishment fund management system of asecond gaming establishment.

If the system determines not to authorize the transfer of the amount offunds, the system communicates a denial of fund transfer to one or morecomponents of one or more of the gaming establishment fund managementsystems. Put differently, upon the second gaming establishment fundmanagement system of the second gaming establishment determining nottransfer funds to the first gaming establishment account maintained bythe first gaming establishment fund management system of the firstgaming establishment, such as the second gaming establishment fundmanagement system determining that the second gaming establishmentaccount lacks the requested amount of funds, the second gamingestablishment fund management system notifies the first gamingestablishment fund management system that the determined amount of fundswill not be transferred.

On the other hand, if the system determines to authorize the transfer ofthe amount of funds, the second gaming establishment fund managementsystem updates the second gaming establishment account (to reflect areduction of the amount of funds) and communicates an authorization tothe first gaming establishment fund management system. The first gamingestablishment fund management system then increases a balance ofavailable funds of the first gaming establishment account or balance bythe transferred amount of funds. In other words, upon the second gamingestablishment fund management system of the second gaming establishmentdetermining to authorize the transfer funds to the first gamingestablishment account maintained by the first gaming establishment fundmanagement system of the first gaming establishment, such as the secondgaming establishment fund management system determining that the secondgaming establishment account is associated with the requested amount offunds, the second gaming establishment fund management system notifiesthe first gaming establishment fund management system of the transfersuch that both gaming establishment fund management systems may updatethe amount of funds in each respective gaming establishment account.

In various embodiments, in addition to updating the amount of funds ineach respective gaming establishment account to reflect the authorizedtransfer of funds between the different gaming establishment accounts,the system disclosed herein causes a corresponding amount of funds to betransferred between different financial institution accounts associatedwith the different gaming establishment accounts. That is, since certainaccounting practices and/or jurisdictional regulations require that theamount of funds associated with one or more gaming establishmentaccounts maintained by a gaming establishment for one or more users aresecured by a corresponding amount of funds in one or more financialinstitution accounts of the gaming establishment, and since a transferof funds to and/or from such gaming establishment accounts may result inthe one or more financial institution accounts of the gamingestablishment not having the corresponding correct amount of funds, thesystem disclosed herein causes, either in association with each transferof funds between gaming establishment accounts or in association with aplurality of transfers of funds between gaming establishment accounts, atransfer of a corresponding amount of funds between the differentfinancial institution accounts associated with the gamingestablishments. In other words, to reconcile fund transfers betweendifferent gaming establishment accounts associated with different gamingestablishments (which are secured by different financial institutionaccounts), the system triggers corresponding fund transfers betweenthese different financial institution accounts such that both gamingestablishments comply with accounting practices and/or jurisdictionalrequirements following the transfer of funds between these differentgaming establishment. As such, the system disclosed herein provides thata completion of a transfer of funds between gaming establishmentaccounts maintained by one or more gaming establishment fund managementsystems is associated with a corresponding completion of the transfer offunds between financial institutional accounts that secure such gamingestablishment accounts to ensure that each financial institution accountupdates a balance of available funds to reflect either a reduction of anamount of funds corresponding to an amount of funds transferred awayfrom the gaming establishment account associated with that financialinstitution account or an increase of an amount of funds correspondingto an amount of funds transferred to the gaming establishment accountassociated with that financial institution account.

In certain embodiments, to reconcile fund transfers amongst financialinstitution accounts, one or more servers of each gaming establishmentfund management system communicates data regarding the transfer of fundsbetween gaming establishment accounts to one or more servers of thefinancial institution associated with that gaming establishment fundmanagement system. In these embodiments, the one or more servers of thefinancial institutions then communicate data with each other to completethe transfer of funds between the financial institution accounts whichsecure the gaming establishment accounts of the different gamingestablishments that transferred the funds between each other. Forexample, as seen in FIG. 1B, in association with the transfer of anamount of funds between a cashless wagering account associated with afirst gaming establishment (e.g., Player Cashless System Wallet A 140)and a cashless wagering account associated with a second gamingestablishment (e.g., Player Cashless System Wallet B 142), the gamingestablishment fund management system of the first gaming establishmentcommunicates data regarding this transfer of an amount of funds and anyapplicable fund transfer requests to one or more servers of a firstfinancial institution associated with the first gaming establishment(e.g., Casino Banking System A 144). As also seen in FIG. 1B, followingthe transfer of the amount of funds between the cashless wageringaccounts of the different gaming establishment, the gaming establishmentfund management system of the second gaming establishment alsocommunicates data regarding this transfer of an amount of funds and anyapplicable fund transfer requests to one or more servers of a secondfinancial institution associated with the second gaming establishment(e.g., Casino Banking System B 146). In this example, upon receivingdata from a respective gaming establishment fund management system, oneor more servers of the first financial institution and/or one or moreserver of the second financial institution communicate data which resultin a transfer of an amount of funds (at least corresponding to theamount of funds transferred between the cashless wagering accountassociated with the first gaming establishment and the cashless wageringaccount associated with the second gaming establishment) between a firstfinancial institution account (e.g., Bank Account Casino A 148) whichsecures the first cashless wagering account of the first gamingestablishment and a second financial institution (e.g., Bank AccountCasino B 150) which secures the second cashless wagering account of thesecond gaming establishment.

In certain embodiments, one or more servers of each individual gamingestablishment fund management system communicates data regarding thetransfer of funds between gaming establishment accounts to one or moreservers of a central financial institution system associated with eachof the gaming establishment fund management systems. In theseembodiments, the one or more servers of the central financialinstitution system (which may be part of one of the gaming establishmentfund management systems, part of one of the financial institutionsassociated with one of the gaming establishments or a separate systemwhich integrates with the gaming establishment fund management systemsand the financial institutions) then communicates data to complete thetransfer of funds between the financial institution accounts whichsecure the gaming establishment accounts of the different gamingestablishments that transferred the funds between each other. Forexample, as seen in FIG. 1C, in association with the transfer of anamount of funds between a cashless wagering account associated with afirst gaming establishment (e.g., Player Cashless System Wallet A 140)and a cashless wagering account associated with a second gamingestablishment (e.g., Player Cashless System Wallet B 142), the gamingestablishment fund management system of the first gaming establishmentand the gaming establishment fund management system of the second gamingestablishment each communicate data regarding this transfer of an amountof funds and any applicable fund transfer requests to one or moreservers of a central financial institution system associated with boththe first gaming establishment fund management system and the secondgaming establishment fund management system (e.g., Central CasinoBanking System 152). In this example, upon receiving data from eachgaming establishment fund management system, one or more servers of thecentral financial institution system communicates data which result in atransfer of an amount of funds (at least corresponding to the amount offunds transferred between the cashless wagering account associated withthe first gaming establishment and the cashless wagering accountassociated with the second gaming establishment) between a firstfinancial institution account (e.g., Bank Account Casino A 148) whichsecures the first cashless wagering account of the first gamingestablishment and a second financial institution (e.g., Bank AccountCasino B 150) which secures the second cashless wagering account of thesecond gaming establishment.

It should be appreciated that while the system of certain embodimentsdescribed herein provide that each gaming establishment accountmaintained for a user in association with each gaming establishment ispart of a different gaming establishment fund management system, suchgaming establishment accounts maintained for a user in association witheach gaming establishment may alternatively be part of the same gamingestablishment fund management system. That is, while certain embodimentsdescribe a first gaming establishment fund management system (thatmaintains a first gaming establishment account of a first gamingestablishment that is secured by a first financial institution accountmaintained by a first financial institution) transferring fund data toand from a second, different gaming establishment fund management system(that maintains a second gaming establishment account of a second,different gaming establishment that is secured by a second financialinstitution account maintained by a second financial institution), boththe first gaming establishment account and the second gamingestablishment account may be part of the same gaming establishment fundmanagement system and secured by different financial institutionaccounts. Put differently, while certain embodiments described hereininclude each gaming establishment involved in the fund transfer beingassociated with an individual gaming establishment fund managementsystem, each gaming establishment involved in the fund transfer mayalternatively be associated with or part of the same gamingestablishment fund management system. For example, different casinosites (which, per jurisdictional requirements, are each associated witha different financial institution account) associated with the samegaming establishment or gaming establishment brand may be part of thesame gaming establishment fund management system or part of differentgaming establishment fund management systems.

In certain embodiments, the transfer of funds between gamingestablishment accounts maintained by one or more gaming establishmentfund management systems of different gaming establishments occurs aspart of the same transaction as the transfer of a corresponding amountof funds between different financial institution accounts associatedwith the different gaming establishments. That is, upon a determinationthat one gaming establishment account associated with a user lacks asufficient amount of funds to accomplish a requested action, such astransferring an amount of funds to a credit balance of an EGM ortransferring an amount of funds to a point-of-sale terminal of a retailpoint-of-sale system to purchase goods and/or services, the systemintegrates the transfer of funds from one gaming establishment accountto another gaming establishment account with the transfer of at least acorresponding amount of funds from one financial institution account(which secures one of the gaming establishment accounts) to anotherfinancial institution account (which secures the other one of the gamingestablishment accounts).

For example, as seen in FIG. 2A, a first gaming establishment fundmanagement system (not shown) maintains a first gaming establishmentaccount 202 for a player at an EGM 204 which is secured by a firstfinancial institution account 206 maintained by a first financialinstitution (not shown) and a second gaming establishment fundmanagement system (not shown) maintains a second gaming establishmentaccount 208 for the player which is linked to or otherwise associatedwith the first gaming establishment account and which is secured by asecond financial institution account 210 maintained by a secondfinancial institution (not shown). In this example, as seen in FIG. 2A,upon a determination that the first gaming establishment accountassociated with a player lacks a sufficient amount of funds toaccomplish a requested action of transferring $100 to a credit balanceof an EGM at a first gaming establishment, one or more servers of thefirst gaming establishment fund management system communicate dataassociated with a request of $100 to the second gaming establishmentfund management system to draw $100 from the second gaming establishmentaccount.

If the second gaming establishment fund management system authorizes thetransfer of $100 from the second gaming establishment account to thefirst gaming establishment account, then prior to communicating data tothe first gaming establishment fund management system to increase thefirst gaming establishment account by $100 (and prior to reducing thesecond gaming establishment account by $100 to reflect such a transfer),one or more servers of the second gaming establishment fund managementsystem communicate data to the second financial institution to transfer$100 from the second financial institution account to the firstfinancial institution account. That is, prior to communicating fund datato complete the transfer of funds from one gaming establishment account(which is secured by the funds in one financial institution account) toanother gaming establishment account (which is secured by the funds inanother financial institution account), the system disclosed hereincommunicates data regarding this authorized transfer to one or more ofthe financial institutions which maintain such financial institutionaccounts.

Upon receiving the request from the second gaming establishment fundmanagement system, one or more servers of the second financialinstitution determine whether or not to authorize the transfer of $100.Upon a determination to authorize the transfer of $100 to the firstfinancial institution account, the one or more servers of the secondfinancial institution communicate data to one or more servers of thefirst financial institution to cause a transfer of $100 from the secondfinancial institution account to the first financial institution account(which results in a reduction of the amount of funds in the secondfinancial institution account by $100 and an increase of the amount offunds in the first financial institution account by $100). In additionto communicating data to one or more servers of the first financialinstitution to cause a transfer of $100 from the second financialinstitution account to the first financial institution account, upon aconfirmation of the transfer of $100 to the first financial institutionaccount, the one or more servers of the second financial institutioncommunicate an authorization of transfer to the second gamingestablishment fund management system. In this example, upon receivingsuch an authorization, the second gaming establishment fund managementsystem completes the transfer of $100 from the second gamingestablishment account to the first gaming establishment account (whichresults in a reduction of the amount of funds in the second gamingestablishment account by $100 and an increase of the amount of funds inthe first gaming establishment account by $100). As seen in thisexample, as part of the transfer of an amount of funds from one gamingestablishment account maintained by one gaming establishment fundmanagement system to another gaming establishment account maintained byanother gaming establishment fund management system, the system causes acontemporaneous transfer of a corresponding amount of funds from oneexternal account associated with one gaming establishment fundmanagement system to another external account associated with anothergaming establishment fund management system.

In certain embodiments, the transfer of funds between gamingestablishment accounts maintained by one or more gaming establishmentfund management systems of different gaming establishments and thetransfer of a corresponding amount of funds between different financialinstitution accounts associated with the different gaming establishmentsoccur sequentially. In certain such embodiments, upon a determinationthat one gaming establishment account associated with a user lacks asufficient amount of funds to accomplish a requested action, such astransferring an amount of funds to a credit balance of an EGM ortransferring an amount of funds to a point-of-sale terminal of a retailpoint-of-sale system to purchase goods and/or services, the system firsttransfers an amount of funds from one gaming establishment account toanother gaming establishment account and then transfers at least acorresponding amount of funds from one financial institution account(which secures one of the gaming establishment accounts) to anotherfinancial institution account (which secures the other one of the gamingestablishment accounts). In certain other embodiments, upon adetermination that one gaming establishment account associated with auser lacks a sufficient amount of funds to accomplish a requestedaction, such as transferring an amount of funds to a credit balance ofan EGM or transferring an amount of funds to a point-of-sale terminal ofa retail point-of-sale system to purchase goods and/or services, thesystem first transfers at least a corresponding amount of funds from onefinancial institution account (which secures one gaming establishmentaccount) to another financial institution account (which secures thegaming establishment account lacking the funds) and then transfers anamount of funds from one gaming establishment account to another gamingestablishment account.

For example, as seen in FIG. 2B, a first gaming establishment fundmanagement system (not shown) maintains a first gaming establishmentaccount 202 for a player at an EGM 204 which is secured by a firstfinancial institution account 206 maintained by a first financialinstitution (not shown) and a second gaming establishment fundmanagement system (not shown) maintains a second gaming establishmentaccount 208 for the player which is linked to or otherwise associatedwith the first gaming establishment account and which is secured by asecond financial institution account 210 maintained by a secondfinancial institution (not shown). In this example, as seen in FIG. 2B,upon a determination that the first gaming establishment accountassociated with a player lacks a sufficient amount of funds toaccomplish a requested action of transferring $100 to a credit balanceof an EGM at a first gaming establishment, one or more servers of thefirst gaming establishment fund management system communicate dataassociated with a request of $100 to the second gaming establishmentfund management system to draw $100 from the second gaming establishmentaccount.

If the second gaming establishment fund management system authorizes thetransfer of $100 from the second gaming establishment account to thefirst gaming establishment account, the second gaming establishment fundmanagement system reduces the second gaming establishment account by$100 and communicates data to the first gaming establishment fundmanagement system to increase the first gaming establishment account by$100. That is, in this example, the system communicates fund data tocomplete the transfer of funds from one gaming establishment account(which is secured by the funds in one financial institution account) toanother gaming establishment account (which is secured by the funds inanother financial institution account) independent of communicating dataregarding this authorized transfer to one or more of the financialinstitutions which maintain such financial institution accounts.

Following the transfer of fund data between the servers of the first andsecond gaming establishment fund management systems, one or more serversof the second gaming establishment fund management system communicatedata to the second financial institution to transfer $100 from thesecond financial institution account to the first financial institutionaccount. Upon receiving the request from the second gaming establishmentfund management system, one or more servers of the second financialinstitution determine whether or not to authorize the transfer of $100.Upon a determination to authorize the transfer of $100 to the firstfinancial institution account, the one or more servers of the secondfinancial institution communicate data to one or more servers of thefirst financial institution to cause a transfer of $100 from the secondfinancial institution account to the first financial institution account(which results in a reduction of the amount of funds in the secondfinancial institution account by $100 and an increase of the amount offunds in the first financial institution account by $100). In additionto communicating data to one or more servers of the first financialinstitution to cause a transfer of $100 from the second financialinstitution account to the first financial institution account, the oneor more servers of the second financial institution communicate aconfirmation of transfer to the second gaming establishment fundmanagement system. As seen in this example, either prior to or after thetransfer of an amount of funds from one gaming establishment accountmaintained by one gaming establishment fund management system to anothergaming establishment account maintained by another gaming establishmentfund management system, the system causes a transfer of a correspondingamount of funds from one external account associated with one gamingestablishment fund management system to another external accountassociated with another gaming establishment fund management system.

In certain embodiments, the initiation of the transfer of funds betweengaming establishment accounts maintained by one or more gamingestablishment fund management systems of different gaming establishmentstriggers an initiation of the transfer of a corresponding amount offunds between different financial institution accounts associated withthe different gaming establishments. In certain such embodiments, upon adetermination that one gaming establishment account associated with auser lacks a sufficient amount of funds to accomplish a requestedaction, such as transferring an amount of funds to a credit balance ofan EGM or transferring an amount of funds to a point-of-sale terminal ofa retail point-of-sale system to purchase goods and/or services, thesystem initiates a first transfer of an amount of funds from one gamingestablishment account to another gaming establishment account and alsoinitiates a second transfer of at least a corresponding amount of fundsfrom one financial institution account (which secures one of the gamingestablishment accounts) to another financial institution account (whichsecures the other one of the gaming establishment accounts) wherein thesystem completes the first transfer independent of a completion of thesecond transfer. In these embodiments, while the first transfer of fundsbetween gaming establishment accounts triggers the second transfer offunds between the financial institution accounts, the system does notwait for the second transfer of funds between financial institutionaccounts to complete to complete the first transfer of funds betweengaming establishment accounts. For example, if the transfer of fundsbetween financial institution accounts does not occur in real-time, suchas automated clearing house (“ACH”) transfers which may take up to threedays to complete (e.g., if the transfer is initiated after a designatedtime on a Friday afternoon heading into a three-day holiday weekend),the system completes the transfer of funds between gaming establishmentaccounts even if the transfer of funds between financial institutionaccounts is not yet complete.

In certain embodiments, multiple transfers of funds between gamingestablishment accounts maintained by one or more gaming establishmentfund management systems of different gaming establishments and multipletransfers of corresponding amounts of funds between different financialinstitution accounts associated with the different gaming establishmentsoccur sequentially. In these embodiments, upon a determination that onegaming establishment account associated with a user lacks a sufficientamount of funds to accomplish a requested action, such as transferringan amount of funds to a credit balance of an EGM or transferring anamount of funds to a point-of-sale terminal of a retail point-of-salesystem to purchase goods and/or services, the system transfers an amountof funds from one gaming establishment account to another gamingestablishment account and stores in one or more databases dataassociated with such a transfer. Upon a subsequent financial institutionfund transfer triggering event (which may occur after zero, one or moreadditional transfers of funds between different gaming establishmentaccounts maintained for different users by one or more gamingestablishment fund management systems associated with different gamingestablishments), for each of such stored transfers which occurred, thesystem causes a transfer of at least a corresponding amount of fundsfrom one financial institution account (which secures one of the gamingestablishment accounts) to another financial institution account (whichsecures the other one of the gaming establishment accounts). Thisembodiment thus provides a batch settling process wherein the systemaggregates each gaming establishment account to gaming establishmentaccount fund transfer and upon a financial institution fund transfertriggering event, causes an amount of funds to be transferred betweendifferent financial institution accounts to reconcile each of thesegaming establishment account fund transfers.

For example, as seen in FIG. 2C, a first gaming establishment fundmanagement system (not shown) maintains a first gaming establishmentaccount 202 for a player at an EGM 204 which is secured by a firstfinancial institution account 206 maintained by a first financialinstitution (not shown) and a second gaming establishment fundmanagement system (not shown) maintains a second gaming establishmentaccount 208 for the player which is linked to or otherwise associatedwith the first gaming establishment account and which is secured by asecond financial institution account 210 maintained by a secondfinancial institution (not shown). In this example, as seen in FIG. 2C,upon a determination that the first gaming establishment accountassociated with a player lacks a sufficient amount of funds toaccomplish a requested action of transferring $100 to a credit balanceof an EGM at a first gaming establishment, one or more servers of thefirst gaming establishment fund management system communicate dataassociated with a request of $100 to the second gaming establishmentfund management system to draw $100 from the second gaming establishmentaccount. If the second gaming establishment fund management systemauthorizes the transfer of $100 from the second gaming establishmentaccount to the first gaming establishment account, the second gamingestablishment fund management system reduces the second gamingestablishment account by $100 and communicates data to the first gamingestablishment fund management system to increase the first gamingestablishment account by $100. Following such a transfer, one or morecomponents of the first gaming establishment fund management systemstore or otherwise escrow the data associated this transfer for asubsequent reconciliation of corresponding financial institutionaccounts.

In this example, following such a transfer (and potentially one or moreadditional transfers of funds between different accounts associated withthe same user or one or more different users maintained by one or moregaming establishment fund management systems) and upon an occurrence ofa financial institution fund transfer triggering event, one or moreservers of the first financial institution communicate data to one ormore servers of the first gaming establishment fund management system torequest data associated with each of the transfers that occurred thatneed to be reconciled. The one or more servers of the first gamingestablishment fund management system then compile the one or more storedtransfers awaiting reconciliation and communicates data associated witheach of such transfers to one or more servers of the first financialinstitution. That is, upon a financial institution fund transfertriggering event, such as at a designated point in time and/or when atotal amount of funds between gaming establishment accounts maintainedin association with different gaming establishments reaches or exceeds athreshold amount of funds, the first gaming establishment fundmanagement system aggregates the various outstanding gamingestablishment account fund transfers that need to be reconciled (withcorresponding fund transfers between financial institution accounts) todetermine an aggregate amount of funds and reports such data to theappropriate financial institution.

In these embodiments, as seen in FIG. 2C, the one or more servers of thefirst financial institution communicate data to one or more servers ofthe second financial institution to request a transfer of the determinedaggregate amount of funds from the second financial institution accountto the first financial institution account. Upon receiving the requestfrom the first financial institution, one or more servers of the secondfinancial institution determine whether or not to authorize the transferof the determined aggregate amount of funds. Upon a determination toauthorize the transfer of the determined aggregate amount of funds tothe first financial institution account, the one or more servers of thesecond financial institution communicate data to one or more servers ofthe first financial institution to cause a transfer of the determinedaggregate amount of funds from the second financial institution accountto the first financial institution account (which results in a reductionof the amount of funds in the second financial institution account bythe determined aggregate amount of funds and an increase of the amountof funds in the first financial institution account by the determinedaggregate amount of funds). As seen in this example, after one or moretransfers of one or more amounts of funds from one or more gamingestablishment accounts maintained by one gaming establishment fundmanagement system to one or more gaming establishment accountsmaintained by another gaming establishment fund management system, thesystem causes a batch transfer of a corresponding total amount of fundsfrom one external account in communication with the one gamingestablishment fund management system to another external account incommunication with the other gaming establishment fund managementsystem. Such a batch transfer enables multiple gaming establishmentaccounts to be reconciled upon a suitable financial institution fundtransfer triggering event, such as at a designated point in time and/orwhen a total amount of funds between gaming establishment accountsmaintained in association with different gaming establishments reachesor exceeds a threshold amount of funds.

In certain embodiments wherein the system processes a batch of gamingestablishment account fund transfers in association with a financialinstitution fund transfer triggering event, the system creates onetransfer of funds between financial institution accounts for eachtransfer of funds between gaming establishment accounts maintained byone or more gaming establishment fund management systems associated withdifferent gaming establishments. In these embodiments, while the systemprocesses a batch of gaming establishment account fund transfers upon asingle occurrence of the financial institution fund transfer triggeringevent, the system treats each transfer as a separate transaction. Incertain other embodiments wherein the system processes a batch of gamingestablishment account fund transfers in association with a financialinstitution fund transfer triggering event, the system creates onetransfer of funds between financial institution accounts for all of thetransfers of funds between gaming establishment accounts maintained byone or more gaming establishment fund management systems associated withdifferent gaming establishments. In these embodiments, the systemprocesses a batch of gaming establishment account fund transfers upon asingle occurrence of the financial institution fund transfer triggeringevent as a single transaction.

In certain embodiments wherein the system processes a batch of gamingestablishment account fund transfers in association with a financialinstitution fund transfer triggering event, the system totals the batchof gaming establishment account fund transfers by each gamingestablishment fund management system and proceeds to process a batch oftransfers per gaming establishment fund management system. In theseembodiments, upon a financial institution fund transfer triggeringevent, for each gaming establishment fund management system, the systemprocesses one transfer, if applicable, to each of the other gamingestablishment fund management systems and/or one transfer, ifapplicable, from each of the other gaming establishment fund managementsystems.

In certain embodiments wherein the system processes a batch of gamingestablishment account fund transfers in association with a financialinstitution fund transfer triggering event, for each transfer of fundsbetween gaming establishment accounts maintained by one or more gamingestablishment fund management systems associated with different gamingestablishments, the system notifies one or more servers of thecorresponding financial institution of the transfer but the one or moreservers do not initiate any transfer of any corresponding amount offunds between financial institution accounts until the financialinstitution fund transfer triggering event occurs. In one suchembodiment, the system notifies one or more servers of the correspondingfinancial institution of the transfer when the gaming establishmentaccount fund transfer occurs. In another such embodiment, the systemnotifies one or more servers of the corresponding financial institutionof the transfer on a periodic basis.

In certain embodiments, the system automatically causes the transfer offunds from one financial institution account to another financialinstitution (either as an individual transfer or as a batch transfer) toreconcile a transfer of funds from one gaming establishment account toanother gaming establishment account. In certain embodiments, the systemcauses the transfer of funds from one financial institution account toanother financial institution (either as an individual transfer or as abatch transfer) to reconcile a transfer of funds from one gamingestablishment account to another gaming establishment account responsiveto one or more inputs received, such as a request from a financialinstitution which maintains a financial account associated with thetransfer or a request from a gaming establishment fund management systemto reconcile the funds.

In certain embodiments, upon a suitable report generation triggeringevent, the system generates one or more reports regarding the transferof funds between financial institution accounts that needs to occur. Inone such embodiment, rather than automatically causing the transfer offunds from one financial institution account to another financialinstitution (either as an individual transfer or as a batch transfer) toreconcile a transfer of funds from one gaming establishment account toanother gaming establishment account, personnel of one or more of thefinancial institutions and/or of one or more of the gamingestablishments utilize such a generated report to manually request thetransfer of funds from one financial institution account to anotherfinancial institution to reconcile a transfer of funds from one gamingestablishment account to another gaming establishment account. In onesuch embodiment, the generated report is in a standard format, such asan ACH file, that can be manually uploaded to a financial institution toreconcile one or more transfers of funds from one gaming establishmentaccount to another gaming establishment account.

In certain embodiments, in addition to transferring funds to a firstgaming establishment account associated with a first gamingestablishment from a second gaming establishment account associated witha second gaming establishment and reconciling such a transfer of fundswith a corresponding transfer of funds to a first financial institutionaccount associated with the first gaming establishment from a secondfinancial institution account associated with the second gamingestablishment, the system enables funds to be transferred to a gamingestablishment account from a third-party account, such as one or morecredit card accounts, one or more debit card accounts and/or one or morethird-party maintained accounts (e.g., one or more PayPal® accounts orVenmo® accounts). In other embodiments, the system enables funds to betransferred to a gaming establishment account via a mobile deviceelectronic fund transfer, such using Apple Pay™ or Android Pay™. Invarious embodiments, the system utilizes a mobile device running amobile device application, a kiosk, an EGM and/or a gaming establishmentinterface to facilitate this transfer of funds from a third-partyaccount.

In certain embodiments, in addition to transferring funds to a firstgaming establishment account associated with a first gamingestablishment from a second gaming establishment account associated witha second gaming establishment and reconciling such a transfer of fundswith a corresponding transfer of funds to a first financial institutionaccount associated with the first gaming establishment from a secondfinancial institution account associated with the second gamingestablishment, the system enables funds to be deposited in a gamingestablishment account via drawing funds from a gaming establishmentcredit system which issues the player a line of credit or marker. Invarious embodiments, the system utilizes a mobile device running amobile device application, a kiosk, an EGM and/or a gaming establishmentinterface to facilitate these transfer(s) of funds from the gamingestablishment credit system.

In certain embodiments, in addition to transferring funds to a firstgaming establishment account associated with a first gamingestablishment from a second gaming establishment account associated witha second gaming establishment and reconciling such a transfer of fundswith a corresponding transfer of funds to a first financial institutionaccount associated with the first gaming establishment from a secondfinancial institution account associated with the second gamingestablishment, the system enables funds to be deposited in a gamingestablishment account via an EGM. In certain embodiments, the systemenables a player that has an amount of cash to utilize an EGM to convertthe cash to an amount deposited into a gaming establishment account. Inother embodiments, the system enables funds to be deposited in a gamingestablishment account via an EGM that accepts printed ticket vouchers(i.e., a bearer instrument redeemable for cash or game play on the EGM).In these embodiments, the system enables a player that has one or moreprinted ticket vouchers to utilize an EGM to convert the printed ticketvoucher to an amount deposited into a gaming establishment.

In certain embodiments, in addition to transferring funds to a firstgaming establishment account associated with a first gamingestablishment from a second gaming establishment account associated witha second gaming establishment and reconciling such a transfer of fundswith a corresponding transfer of funds to a first financial institutionaccount associated with the first gaming establishment from a secondfinancial institution account associated with the second gamingestablishment, the system enables funds to be deposited in a gamingestablishment account via a gaming establishment interface, such as acasino desk. In certain embodiments, the system enables a player thathas an amount of cash to utilize a gaming establishment interface, suchas a casino desk to convert the cash to an amount deposited into agaming establishment account. In other embodiments, the system enablesfunds to be deposited in a gaming establishment account via a gamingestablishment interface that accepts printed ticket vouchers. In theseembodiments, the system enables a player that has one or more printedticket vouchers to utilize a gaming establishment interface to convertthe printed ticket voucher to an amount deposited into a gamingestablishment account.

In certain embodiments, in addition to transferring funds to a firstgaming establishment account associated with a first gamingestablishment from a second gaming establishment account associated witha second gaming establishment and reconciling such a transfer of fundswith a corresponding transfer of funds to a first financial institutionaccount associated with the first gaming establishment from a secondfinancial institution account associated with the second gamingestablishment, the system enables funds to be deposited in a gamingestablishment account via a kiosk that accepts money. In certainembodiments, the system enables a player that has an amount of cash toutilize a kiosk to convert the cash to an amount deposited into a gamingestablishment account. In other embodiments, the system enables funds tobe deposited in a gaming establishment account via a kiosk that acceptsprinted ticket vouchers. In these embodiments, the system enables aplayer that has one or more printed ticket vouchers to utilize a kioskto convert the printed ticket voucher to an amount deposited into agaming establishment account.

In certain embodiments, in addition to transferring funds to a firstgaming establishment account associated with a first gamingestablishment from a second gaming establishment account associated witha second gaming establishment and reconciling such a transfer of fundswith a corresponding transfer of funds to a first financial institutionaccount associated with the first gaming establishment from a secondfinancial institution account associated with the second gamingestablishment, the system enables a player associated with an amount ofvirtual ticket vouchers to utilize an EGM, a mobile device running anapplication, a kiosk and/or a gaming establishment interface to convertthe virtual ticket vouchers to an amount deposited into a gamingestablishment account.

It should be appreciated that while the above example embodiments aredescribed in relation to utilizing a mobile device to facilitate thetransferring one or more amounts of money or units of currency from akiosk to a gaming establishment account, such example embodiments mayalso be used to transfer, either as an isolated transaction or as partof an operation mode of a gaming establishment device, one or moreamounts of money or units of currency from an EGM to a gamingestablishment account and/or from a gaming establishment interface, suchas a casino desk, to a gaming establishment account.

Utilizing Mobile Device with Gaming Establishment Device

In various embodiments, after pairing a mobile device with a gamingestablishment device, such as an EGM or a component of a gamingestablishment system supported by a cabinet of a gaming establishmentdevice, such as a component of a gaming establishment management systemsupported by an EGM cabinet, the mobile device application communicatesone or more requested actions to be performed to the gamingestablishment device. It should be appreciated that while certain dataor information pertaining to one or more of the requested actions arecommunicated from a gaming establishment device (or a component of agaming establishment device, such as a component of a gamingestablishment management system supported by or otherwise located insidethe gaming establishment device) to a mobile device, such data orinformation may additionally or alternatively be communicated: (i) fromone or more servers to a mobile device via one or more wirelesscommunication protocols, or (ii) from a gaming establishment device toone or more servers via one or more wireless communication protocols andthen from one or more servers to a mobile device via one or morewireless communication protocols.

It should be further appreciated that any functionality or processdescribed herein may be implemented via one or more servers, a gamingestablishment device, one or more components of a gaming establishmentdevice (such as a component of a gaming establishment management systemsupported by or otherwise located inside the gaming establishmentdevice), or a mobile device application. For example, while certain dataor information described herein is explained as being communicated froma gaming establishment device or a component of a gaming establishmentmanagement system supported by or otherwise located inside the gamingestablishment device to a mobile device via one or more wirelesscommunication protocols, such data or information may additionally oralternatively be communicated from one or more servers to a mobiledevice via one or more wireless communication protocols. Accordingly:(i) while certain functions, features or processes are described hereinas being performed by a gaming establishment device, such as an EGM,such functions, features or processes may alternatively be performed byone or more servers, or one or more mobile device applications, or oneor more components of a gaming establishment management system supportedby or otherwise located inside the gaming establishment device), (ii)while certain functions, features or processes are described herein asbeing performed by one or more mobile device applications, suchfunctions, features or processes may alternatively be performed by oneor more servers, or one or more gaming establishment devices, or one ormore components of a gaming establishment management system supported byor otherwise located inside the gaming establishment device, (iii) whilecertain functions, features or processes are described herein as beingperformed by one or more servers, such functions, features or processesmay alternatively be performed by one or more gaming establishmentdevices, or one or more mobile device applications, or one or morecomponents of a gaming establishment management system supported by orotherwise located inside the gaming establishment device, and (iv) whilecertain functions, features or processes are described herein as beingperformed by one or more components of a gaming establishment managementsystem, such functions, features or processes may alternatively beperformed by one or more gaming establishment devices, or one or moremobile device applications, or one or more servers.

It should also be appreciated that while described below as variousrequested actions being performed in association with an EGM, suchrequested actions may additionally or alternatively be performed inassociation with any suitable gaming establishment device located in agaming establishment, such as an electronic gaming table, a gamingterminal associated with one or more gaming tables, or a kiosk whichreceives wagers such as wagers on sporting events and/or any suitablegaming establishment device located in a non-gaming area of a gamingestablishment, such as a point-of-sale terminal located in a retail areaof a gaming establishment. Moreover, while described below astransferring funds to a gaming establishment account of a gamingestablishment fund management system, from a gaming establishment of agaming establishment fund management system and/or between gamingestablishment accounts of one or more gaming establishment fundmanagement systems, such funds may take any suitable form, whereapplicable, including, but not limited to, cashable credits,non-cashable credits, and/or promotional credits.

Player Accounts

In certain embodiments, the action to be performed includes enabling theplayer to log into a casino loyalty account, such as a player trackingaccount, via a wireless communication protocol, utilizing a mobiledevice application executed by a mobile device.

In various embodiments, following the launching of the mobile deviceapplication, such as following the player selecting an image associatedwith an electronic casino loyalty account card stored via a digitalwallet application or following the mobile device application retrievingdata associated with a player loyalty account stored via a digitalwallet application, the mobile device application prompts the player tocause the mobile device to engage the EGM, such as prompting the playerto tap the mobile device to a card reader or other designatedlocation(s) of the EGM. After such engagement (or after the launching ofthe mobile device application if no mobile device to EGM engagement isrequired), the mobile device application communicates, via a wirelesscommunication protocol, player loyalty account data stored by the mobiledevice to the EGM (or a component of the EGM). The EGM proceeds withoperating with a player loyalty system (i.e., a player tracking system)to log the player into the player loyalty account at that EGM.Thereafter, any game play activity is associated with this playerloyalty account (just as if the player would have inserted a physicalplayer tracking card into a player tracking card reader of the EGM).

In certain embodiments, the action to be performed includes enabling theplayer to log out of a casino loyalty account, such as a player trackingaccount, via a wireless communication protocol, utilizing a mobiledevice application executed by a mobile device. In certain embodiments,upon receiving one or more “cash out” inputs or “log out” inputs fromthe player, the mobile device application facilitates a logging out ofthe casino loyalty account. In certain other embodiments, if the systemdetermines that no activity has occurred for a designated amount oftime, or if the system determines that another player is attempting tolog onto the EGM, the mobile device application facilitates a loggingout of the casino loyalty account. In these embodiments, such loggingout of the casino loyalty account is associated with a termination ofthe player's current gaming session. Specifically, the EGM proceeds withoperating with a player loyalty system (i.e., a player tracking system)to log the player out of the player loyalty account at that EGM tocomplete the player tracking session at the EGM.

In certain embodiments, the action to be performed additionally oralternatively includes enabling the player to log into a cashlesswagering account, via a wireless communication protocol, utilizing amobile device application executed by a mobile device. In certain suchembodiments, following the launching of the mobile device application,such as following the player selecting an image associated with anelectronic casino loyalty account card stored via a digital walletapplication or following the mobile device application retrieving dataassociated with a cashless wagering account stored via a digital walletapplication, the mobile device application prompts the player to causethe mobile device to engage the EGM, such as prompting the player to tapthe mobile device to a card reader or other designated location(s) ofthe EGM. After such engagement (or after the launching of the mobiledevice application if no mobile device to EGM engagement is required),the mobile device application communicates, via a wireless communicationprotocol, player cashless wagering account data stored by the mobiledevice to the EGM. The EGM proceeds with operating with the cashlesswagering system to log the player into a cashless wagering accountassociated with the player.

In one embodiment, the system determines a balance of the cashlesswagering account associated with the player and causes the EGM tocommunicate, via one or more wireless communication protocols, thedetermined cashless wagering account balance to the mobile device. Inanother embodiment, the system determines a balance of the cashlesswagering account associated with the player and communicates, via one ormore wireless communication protocols, the determined cashless wageringaccount balance(s) to the mobile device.

Transfer of Funds from Gaming Establishment Account to GamingEstablishment Wagering Device

In certain embodiments, the action to be performed additionally oralternatively includes enabling the player to facilitate the transfer offunds from a gaming establishment account, described herein as acashless wagering account, to a gaming establishment wagering device,described herein as an EGM, utilizing a mobile device applicationexecuted by a mobile device. In certain such embodiments, following thelaunching of the mobile device application, such as following the playerselecting an image associated with an electronic casino loyalty accountcard stored via a digital wallet application or following the mobiledevice application retrieving data associated with a cashless wageringaccount stored via a digital wallet application, the mobile deviceapplication determines an amount of funds to be transferred from thecashless wagering account to the EGM.

In one embodiment, the mobile device application enables the player toselect an amount of funds to be transferred from a listing of availableamounts of funds to be transferred from the cashless wagering account tothe EGM. In different embodiments, the listing of available amounts tobe transferred is previously selected by the player, selected by agaming establishment or selected by a third-party. In certainembodiments, the mobile device application enables the player, a gamingestablishment and/or a third-party to modify the listing of availableamount of funds. In another embodiment, the mobile device applicationdetermines the listing of available amount of funds based on one or morecharacteristics associated with the player, such as the player's prioramounts transferred, the player's wagering history, and/or the player'sstatus. In another embodiment, the mobile device application determinesthe listing of available amount of funds based on one or morecharacteristics associated with the EGM, such as based on thedenomination, game type, minimum bet and/or maximum available wageramount of the EGM.

In one embodiment, the mobile device application includes more than onelisting of available amounts of funds to be transferred. In thisembodiment, the mobile device application includes one listing ofavailable amounts for an initial transfer of funds to the EGM for agaming session (i.e., a first listing of amounts to initially establisha credit balance of an EGM) and another listing of available amounts fora subsequent transfer of funds to the EGM for an existing gaming session(i.e., a second listing of amounts to modify a previously establishedcredit balance of the EGM).

In another embodiment, the mobile device application determines adefault amount of funds to be transferred from the cashless wageringaccount to the EGM. In one such embodiment, the default amount of fundsincludes the last amount of funds transferred from the cashless wageringaccount to the EGM. In another such embodiment, the default amount offunds includes the last amount of funds transferred from the EGM to thecashless wagering account. The mobile device application displays to theplayer such a default amount of funds to be transferred.

In different embodiments, the default amount to be transferred ispreviously selected by the player, selected by a gaming establishment orselected by a third-party. In certain embodiments, the mobile deviceapplication enables the player, a gaming establishment and/or athird-party to modify the default amount of funds displayed by themobile device application. In another embodiment, the mobile deviceapplication determines the default amount of funds based on one or morecharacteristics associated with the player, such as the player's prioramounts transferred, the player's wagering history, the player's creditbalance, or the player's status.

In one embodiment, the mobile device application includes more than onedefault amount of funds to be transferred. In this embodiment, themobile device application includes one default amount for an initialtransfer of funds to the EGM for a gaming session (i.e., a first defaultamount to initially establish a credit balance of an EGM) and anotherdefault amount for a subsequent transfer of funds to the EGM for anexisting gaming session (i.e., a second default amount to modify apreviously established credit balance of the EGM).

In certain embodiments, following the determination of an amount offunds to be transferred from the cashless wagering account to the EGM,the mobile device application prompts the player to cause the mobiledevice to engage the EGM, such as prompting the player to tap the mobiledevice to a player tracking card reader or other designated location(s)of the EGM. After such engagement (or after the determination of anamount of funds to be transferred if no mobile device to EGM engagementis required), the mobile device application communicates, via a wirelesscommunication protocol, data associated with the determined amount offunds to be transferred from the cashless wagering account to the EGM.

In these embodiments, after the data associated with the determinedamount of funds to be transferred from the cashless wagering account tothe EGM is wirelessly communicated, the EGM proceeds with operating witha cashless wagering system to log the player into a cashless wageringaccount associated with the player (if necessary) and request thedetermined amount of funds to be transferred from the cashless wageringaccount to the EGM.

In another embodiment, rather than prompting the player to engage theEGM with the mobile device and the subsequent engagement of the EGM withthe mobile device, the mobile device application automaticallydetermines to transfer a default amount of funds, such as the lasttransferred amount of funds, from the cashless wagering account to theEGM. In this embodiment, the mobile device application communicates, viaa wireless communication protocol, data associated with the determinedamount of funds to be transferred from the cashless wagering account tothe EGM. The EGM proceeds with operating with a cashless wagering systemto log the player into a cashless wagering account associated with theplayer (if necessary) and request the determined amount of funds to betransferred from the cashless wagering account to the EGM.

Following the EGM requesting the determined amount of funds, thecashless wagering system determines whether to authorize the transfer ofthe determined amount of funds. If the cashless wagering systemdetermines not to authorize the determined amount of funds, the cashlesswagering system communicates a denial to the EGM and/or the mobiledevice application, wherein the EGM and/or mobile device applicationdisplay a denial of funds transfer to the player.

On the other hand, if the cashless wagering system determines toauthorize the determined amount of funds, the cashless wagering systemupdates the cashless wagering account associated with the player andcommunicates an authorization to the EGM. The cashless wagering systemreduces a balance of the cashless wagering account by the reduced amountof funds. The EGM proceeds with updating a credit balance of the EGM toaccount for the determined amount of funds. In certain embodiments, theEGM further proceeds with communicating a transfer of funds confirmationto the mobile device, wherein the mobile device application displays aconfirmation of the transfer of the amount of funds and/or the updatedcredit balance of the EGM. Such a transfer amount of funds is availablefor wagering by the player or transferring to a gaming establishmentretail account (via the cashless wagering account as described herein).

In certain embodiments, the action to be performed additionally oralternatively includes automatically initiating the transfer of fundsfrom a cashless wagering account to the EGM utilizing the mobile deviceapplication. In one such embodiment, the gaming system includes anautomatic reload feature wherein if a credit balance of the EGM fallsbelow a threshold level, the mobile device automatically initiates atransfer of an amount of funds from the cashless wagering account to theEGM to facilitate additional wagering opportunities. It should beappreciated that, in certain embodiments, the gaming system enables theplayer to enable or disable such an automatic reload feature.

In certain embodiments, the action to be performed additionally oralternatively includes enabling the player to transfer funds from avirtual ticket voucher to the EGM utilizing a mobile device applicationexecuted by a mobile device. In certain embodiments, following thelaunching of the mobile device application, such as following the playerselecting an image associated with an electronic casino loyalty accountcard stored via a digital wallet application, the mobile deviceapplication determines an amount of funds to be transferred to the EGMvia the redemption of a virtual ticket voucher.

In these embodiments, the mobile device application displays to theplayer images representing any virtual ticket vouchers associated withthe mobile device. The mobile device application enables the player toselect one or more images representing one or more virtual ticketvouchers associated with the mobile device (i.e., one or more inputsmade at the mobile device). In these embodiments, similar to asdescribed above with respect to the transfer of funds from a cashlesswagering account to an EGM via a mobile device application, followingthe determination of which virtual ticket vouchers are to be transferredfrom the mobile device application to the EGM, the mobile deviceapplication prompts the player to cause the mobile device to engage theEGM. The mobile device application then communicates, via a wirelesscommunication protocol, data associated with the selected virtual ticketvoucher to be transferred. The EGM then communicates with one or moreservers, such as a virtual ticket voucher server, to request theselected virtual ticket voucher (and more specifically the amount offunds associated with the selected virtual ticket voucher) betransferred from to the EGM. The server then determines whether toauthorize the transfer of the selected virtual ticket voucher. If thetransfer of the selected virtual ticket voucher is authorized: (i) theserver updates a database of virtual ticket vouchers to reflect theredemption of the selected virtual ticket voucher, (ii) the EGM proceedswith updating a credit balance of the EGM to account for the amount offunds associated with the selected virtual ticket voucher, (iii) atransfer of funds confirmation is communicated to and displayed by themobile device, and (iv) the amount of funds associated with the selectedvirtual ticket voucher are available for wagering by the player.

In certain other embodiments, following a full or partial depletion of acredit balance of the EGM, the EGM wirelessly communicates with themobile device and queries the mobile device for the presence of anyadditional virtual ticket vouchers associated with the mobile deviceapplication. That is, when the credit balance of the EGM is empty, whenthe credit balance of the EGM has less than an amount of credits torepeat a previous wager, when the credit balance of the EGM has lesscredits than a minimum wager and/or when the credit balance of the EGMis below a designated threshold amount, the EGM communicates with themobile device to determine if the mobile device application isassociated with any additional available virtual ticket vouchers. If noadditional virtual ticket vouchers are available, the EGM prompts theplayer to fund the credit balance of the EGM via another funding avenueas disclosed herein. On the other hand, if at least one virtual ticketvoucher is available, the EGM operates with the mobile device tofacilitate the transfer of such at least one virtual ticket voucher tothe EGM. In one such embodiment, the mobile device applicationcommunicates a listing of available virtual ticket vouchers to the EGM.The EGM proceeds with displaying the listing of available virtual ticketvouchers and enables the player to select, at the EGM, one or more ofthe available virtual ticket vouchers to redeem. If the player selectsone or more of the available virtual ticket vouchers, the EGMcommunicates the player's selection to the mobile device and the mobiledevice application proceeds with facilitating the transfer of suchvirtual ticket vouchers to the EGM as described herein. It should beappreciated that this embodiment enables a player to utilize a mobiledevice to facilitate the transfer funds, such as transfer of fundsassociated with one or more virtual ticket vouchers associated with themobile device, without having to reengage the EGM with the mobiledevice.

In certain other embodiments, following a full or partial depletion of acredit balance of the EGM, the EGM wirelessly communicates with themobile device (or communicates with one or more server which communicatewith the EGM) and queries the mobile device for the presence of anyadditional virtual ticket vouchers associated with the mobile deviceapplication. If no additional virtual ticket vouchers are available, theEGM prompts the player to fund the credit balance of the EGM via anotherfunding avenue as disclosed herein. On the other hand, if at least onevirtual ticket voucher is available, the mobile device applicationproceeds with facilitating the automatic transfer of the at least onevirtual ticket voucher to the EGM as described herein. It should beappreciated that this embodiment enables a player to automaticallytransfer funds, such as transfer of funds associated with one or morevirtual ticket vouchers associated with the mobile device, via themobile device without the player having to reengage the EGM with themobile device and without the player having to prompt either the EGM orthe mobile device application to initiate such a transfer. It should befurther appreciated that, in certain embodiments, the gaming systemenables the player to enable or disable such an automatic “transfer ofvirtual ticket vouchers” feature.

In another embodiment, the EGM periodically communicates information tothe mobile device regarding the status or amount of the credit balanceof the EGM. In one such embodiment, based on this communicatedinformation, the mobile device application determines when to alert theplayer to potentially transfer additional funds to the EGM utilizing themobile device application. For example, the mobile device applicationcould vibrate the mobile device, or create a sound, which alerts theplayer to view the mobile device application and select which additionalfunds to virtually insert into or load on the EGM. In another suchembodiment, based on this communicated information, the mobile deviceapplication determines when to automatically transfer one or moreadditional and available virtual ticket vouchers to the EGM.

Transfer of Funds from Gaming Establishment Wagering Device to GamingEstablishment Account

In certain embodiments, the action to be performed additionally oralternatively includes enabling the player to transfer funds from agaming establishment wagering device, described herein as an EGM, to agaming establishment account, described herein as a cashless wageringaccount, utilizing a mobile device application executed by a mobiledevice. That is, the system of this disclosure enables a player totransfer winnings or other unused funds from the EGM to a cashlesswagering account in association with the mobile device application. Incertain such embodiments, following the launching of the mobile deviceapplication, such as following the player selecting an image associatedwith an electronic casino loyalty account card stored via a digitalwallet application or following the mobile device application retrievingdata associated with a cashless wagering account stored via a digitalwallet application, and receiving one or more “cash out” inputs from theplayer, the mobile device application determines an amount of funds tobe transferred from the EGM to the cashless wagering account.

In one embodiment, the mobile device application enables the player toselect an amount to be transferred from the EGM to the cashless wageringaccount. In one such embodiment, the mobile device application enablesthe player to select a portion of the credit balance of the EGM (i.e.,less than the entire credit balance) to be transferred from the EGM tothe cashless wagering account. In various examples, the mobile deviceapplication automatically selects an amount of any winnings (i.e., anamount of the credit balance over the initial credit balance), an amountof winnings over a designated amount, an amount of a last win (i.e., anaward amount associated with the last played game) or an amount of alast win over a designated amount (i.e., an award amount associated withthe last played game over a designated award amount) to be transferredfrom the EGM to the cashless wagering account. In another embodiment,the mobile device application determines to transfer the credit balanceof the EGM from the EGM to the cashless wagering account.

In certain embodiments, following the determination of an amount offunds to be transferred from the EGM to the cashless wagering account,the mobile device application prompts the player to cause the mobiledevice to engage the EGM, such as prompting the player to tap the mobiledevice to a player tracking card reader or other designated location(s)of the EGM.

In certain other embodiments, the system determines to facilitate thetransfer of funds from the EGM to the cashless wagering accountindependent of any input by the player and/or independent of anyengagement between the mobile device and the EGM. In one suchembodiment, if the system determines that no activity has occurred for adesignated amount of time, as a precautionary measure, the systemtransfers the credit balance of the EGM from the EGM to the cashlesswagering account used to transfer funds to the EGM. In anotherembodiment, if the system determines that another player is attemptingto log onto the EGM, as a precautionary measure, the system transfersthe credit balance of the EGM from the EGM to the cashless wageringaccount used to transfer funds to the EGM. Such transfers of the creditbalance to the cashless wagering account is associated with atermination of the player's current gaming session.

After any engagement between the mobile device and the EGM (or after thedetermination of an amount of funds to be transferred if no mobiledevice to EGM engagement is required), the mobile device applicationcommunicates, via a wireless communication protocol, data associatedwith the determined amount of funds to be transferred from the EGM tothe cashless wagering account. The EGM proceeds with operating with acashless wagering system to log the player into a cashless wageringaccount associated with the player (or confirm that the player remainslogged into the cashless wagering account) and request the determinedamount of funds to be transferred from the EGM to the cashless wageringaccount. Following such a request, the EGM proceeds with updating acredit balance of the EGM to account for the determined amount of fundstransferred from the EGM to the cashless wagering account. The cashlesswagering system additionally updates the cashless wagering accountassociated with the player (i.e., the cashless wagering system adds thedetermined amount of funds to the cashless wagering account) andcommunicates a confirmation to the EGM. The EGM further proceeds withcommunicating a transfer of funds confirmation to the mobile device,wherein the mobile device application displays a confirmation of thetransfer of the amount of funds and/or the updated credit balance of theEGM. Such a transferred amount of funds is available in the player'scashless wagering account to be transferred to another EGM ortransferred to a gaming establishment retail account as described here.

In certain embodiments, the action to be performed additionally oralternatively includes automatically initiating a transfer of funds fromthe EGM to a cashless wagering account utilizing the mobile deviceapplication. In one such embodiment, the gaming system includes anautomatic “cash out” feature wherein if a credit balance of the EGMreaches above a threshold level, following a player's input at the EGMto confirm this transfer, the mobile device automatically transfers anamount of funds from the EGM to the cashless wagering account. Such anautomatic “cash out” feature is associated with a termination of theplayer's current gaming session. It should be appreciated that, incertain embodiments, the gaming system enables the player to enable ordisable such an automatic “cash out” feature.

It should be appreciated that the mobile device facilitated fund datatransfers of the present disclosure may occur in addition to or as analternative from cash-based fund transfers and/or ticket voucher-basedfund transfers. In one such embodiment, an EGM of the present disclosureis funded via any of a mobile device facilitated fund transfer, acash-based fund transfer or a ticket voucher-based fund transfer. Inanother embodiment, a credit balance of an EGM of the present disclosureis cashed out via any of a mobile device facilitated fund transfer, acash-based fund transfer or a ticket voucher-based fund transfer. Inanother embodiment, an EGM of the present disclosure is funded via amobile device facilitated fund transfer or a cash-based fund transfer(but is not funded via any ticket voucher-based fund transfer). Inanother embodiment, a credit balance of an EGM of the present disclosureis cashed out via a mobile device facilitated fund transfer or acash-based fund transfer (but is not cashed out via any ticketvoucher-based fund transfer). In another embodiment, an EGM of thepresent disclosure is funded via a mobile device facilitated fundtransfer or a ticket voucher-based fund transfer (but is not funded viaany cash-based fund transfer). In another embodiment, a credit balanceof an EGM of the present disclosure is cashed out via a mobile devicefacilitated fund transfer or a ticket voucher-based fund transfer (butis not cashed out via any cash-based fund transfer). In anotherembodiment, an EGM of the present disclosure is funded via a mobiledevice facilitated fund transfer (but is not funded via a cash-basedfund transfer nor a ticket voucher-based fund transfer). In anotherembodiment, a credit balance of an EGM of the present disclosure iscashed out via a mobile device facilitated fund transfer (but is notcashed out via a cash-based fund transfer nor a ticket voucher-basedfund transfer).

Transfer of Funds Between External Account and Gaming EstablishmentAccount

In certain embodiments, the action to be performed additionally oralternatively includes enabling the player to transfer funds from anexternal account, authorizing any establishment of a line of credit (ifthe funds to be transferred from the external funding source whichmaintains the external account takes more than a designated period oftime) and/or drawing upon a line of credit. Put differently, facilitatedby the mobile device application, the system enables the player to fundone or more accounts from one or more external sources and access one ormore lines of credits based on the establishment and drawing down of aline of credit.

In certain embodiments, the cashless wagering account is associated withone or more external accounts, such as one or more credit card accounts,one or more debit card accounts and/or one or more third-partymaintained accounts (e.g., one or more PayPal® accounts or Venmo®accounts). In certain such embodiments, the gaming system enables aplayer to transfer an amount of funds to such an external account. Forexample, after a player utilizes the mobile device application to “cashout” an amount of winnings or unused funds from the EGM and after theplayer has confirmed this “cash out” via one or more inputs made at theEGM, the system enables the player to proceed with transferring, part orall of the amount of winnings or unused funds to one or more externalaccounts.

Transfer of Funds Between Different Gaming Establishment Accounts

In certain embodiments, the action to be performed additionally oralternatively includes enabling the player to transfer funds betweendifferent accounts utilizing a mobile device application executed by amobile device. That is, in addition to establishing an amount of fundsin one or more accounts of the system as described herein, the systemdisclosed enables funds to be transferred between different componentswithin the system. Put differently, after an amount of funds aredeposited from a funding source into a maintained account, the systemenables such funds to be subsequently transferred to another account ordestination within the system.

In these embodiments, following the player's decision to transfer anamount of funds from a first account or balance associated with a firstsystem component to a second account or balance associated with a secondsystem component, the system determines whether to authorize thetransfer of the determined amount of funds. If the system determines notto authorize the determined amount of funds, the system communicates adenial of fund transfer to the player. On the other hand, if the systemdetermines to authorize the determined amount of funds, the first systemcomponent updates the first account (to reflect a reduction of thedetermined amount of funds) and communicates an authorization to thesecond system component. The second system component then increases abalance of available funds of the second account or balance by thetransferred amount of funds.

In certain embodiments, the system utilizes a mobile device tofacilitate the transfer of funds from a cashless wagering account to agaming establishment retail account. In these embodiments, the transferof funds from the cashless wagering account to the gaming establishmentretail account occurs via one or more applications being run or executedon the mobile device. That is, in addition to the other actionsdisclosed herein (e.g., utilizing the mobile device application tofacilitate the transfer of funds from the cashless wagering account tothe EGM), to be performed which may be selected via the mobile deviceapplication, the mobile device application enables the player to requestthat an amount of funds be transferred from the cashless wageringaccount to the gaming establishment retail account.

It should be appreciated that in various embodiments the system limitsthe transfer of funds from a cashless wagering account to a gamingestablishment retail account to funds that can be redeemed for cash,such as funds and/or non-restricted promotional credits. That is, toprevent a player from improperly converting non-cashable funds held in acashless wagering account to products and/or services, the systemenables the player to utilize funds (i.e., credits that can be directlyconverted to cash) to load funds from their cashless wagering account totheir gaming establishment retail account (which are then usable forgoods and/or services, but not otherwise redeemable for cash). Incertain embodiments, this configuration provides just-in-time funding ofthe gaming establishment retail account to enable the player to makepurchases at different point-of-sale locations associated with thegaming establishment retail network.

Following the player's decision to transfer an amount of funds (in theform of funds) from a cashless wagering account to a gamingestablishment retail account, the cashless wagering system determineswhether to authorize the transfer of the determined amount of funds. Ifthe cashless wagering system determines not to authorize the determinedamount of funds, the cashless wagering system communicates a denial tothe mobile device application, wherein the mobile device applicationdisplays a denial of fund transfer to the player.

On the other hand, if the cashless wagering system determines toauthorize the determined amount of funds, the cashless wagering systemupdates the cashless wagering account associated with the player (toreflect a reduction of the determined amount of funds) and communicatesan authorization to the gaming establishment retail system. The gamingestablishment retail system then increases a balance of available fundsof the gaming establishment retail account by the transferred amount offunds. The mobile device application proceeds with displaying an updatedgaming establishment retail account balance as well as an updatedcashless wagering account balance.

In certain embodiments, the system includes an automatic reload featurewherein if a gaming establishment retail account falls below a thresholdlevel, the system automatically transfers an amount from the externalaccount, the cashless wagering account and/or the gaming establishmentaccount to the gaming establishment retail account. It should beappreciated that, in certain embodiments, the system enables the playerto enable or disable such an automatic reload feature.

In certain embodiments, the system utilizes a mobile device tofacilitate the transfer of funds from a gaming establishment retailaccount to a cashless wagering account. In these embodiments, thetransfer of funds from a gaming establishment retail account to acashless wagering account occurs utilizing one or more inputs receivedvia the mobile device application and one or more inputs received viathe EGM.

In various embodiments, the mobile device application utilized totransfer funds between a gaming establishment retail account and acashless wagering account is associated with the gaming establishmentretail account and the cashless wagering account, such that the playermay view the balances of at least these accounts via the mobile deviceapplication.

In various embodiments, the mobile device application enables the playerto request that an amount of funds be transferred from the gamingestablishment retail account to the cashless wagering account. It shouldbe appreciated that since the balance of funds in the gamingestablishment retail account cannot be converted to cash, the systemtransfers any funds from the gaming establishment retail account to thecashless wagering account as non-cashable fund. As described herein,such non-cashable funds may be subsequently transferred to the EGM (andusable to play one or more wagering games on the EGM), but suchnon-cashable funds may not be otherwise directly redeemable for cash(however any winnings from any games played funded by such non-cashablefunds are redeemable for cash). In certain scenarios, the conversion ofan amount of non-cashable funds from a gaming establishment retailaccount to an amount of non-cashable funds of a cashless wageringaccount is effectively providing that an amount of non-cashable fundsfrom a gaming establishment retail account is being used to purchase aquantity of pre-paid plays. In different embodiments, these pre-paidplays are of one or more wagering games of an EGM, one or moreplacements of one or more sports wagers on one or more sporting events,one or more wagering games of a mobile device and/or one or more tablegames occurring at a gaming table. It should thus be appreciated thatwhile described herein predominantly as a player placing wagers at anEGM, the present disclosure also applies to wagers placed by the playerat a gaming table, such as an electronic gaming table, wagers placed bya player at a gaming terminal associated with one or more gaming tables,wagers placed by a player on a mobile device, wagers placed by a playeron one or more sporting events, and/or any applicable wagers placed viaany applicable wagering device associated with the system.

Following the player's decision to transfer an amount of funds from agaming establishment retail account to a cashless wagering account, thegaming establishment retail system determines whether to authorize thetransfer of the determined amount of funds. If the gaming establishmentretail system determines not to authorize the determined amount offunds, the gaming establishment retail system communicates a denial tothe mobile device application, wherein the mobile device applicationdisplay a denial of funds transfer to the player.

On the other hand, if the gaming establishment retail system determinesto authorize the determined amount of funds, the gaming establishmentretail system updates the gaming establishment retail account associatedwith the player (to reflect a reduction of the determined amount offunds) and communicates an authorization to the cashless wageringsystem. The cashless wagering system increases a balance of funds of thecashless wagering account by the transferred amount of funds. The mobiledevice application proceeds with displaying an updated gamingestablishment retail account balance as well as an updated cashlesswagering account balance.

Accordingly, the utilization of a mobile device to facilitate thetransfer of funds from one gaming establishment account to anothergaming establishment account provides a player an otherwiseuninterrupted gaming experience and thus increases the player'ssatisfaction with their time spent at the gaming establishment. Forexample, rather than having to carry cash and/or ticket vouchers (whichmay be lost or stolen and which are associated with various costs to agaming establishment) between the gaming establishment's retail spaceand the gaming establishment's gaming space, the system enables a playerto simply carry their mobile device which has access to funds to be usedin both the gaming establishment's retail space and the gamingestablishment's gaming space. In another example, since certainregulations provide that funds which reside in a cashless wageringaccount are frozen if wagers are not placed using that cashless wageringaccount within a sixteen month period, the utilization of a gamingestablishment retail account (which do not have the same time-basedrestrictions) to hold the funds coupled with the seamless, mobilefacilitated transfer of such funds from the gaming establishment retailaccount to the cashless wagering account overcomes certain player'sconcerns of having their funds frozen due to inactivity.

Moreover, the utilization of a mobile device to transfer funds to theEGM reduces the costs associated with utilizing cash, ticket vouchersand/or promotional tickets. For example, the utilization of cash andticket vouchers is associated with the labor costs of having toperiodically remove a cash box including received ticket vouchers andcash from the EGM, replace the removed cash box with an empty one andrefill the blank ticket voucher stacks housed by the EGM. Theutilization of such cash and ticket vouchers is further associated withthe various labor costs of counting the cash and ticket vouchers removedfrom the EGM. Specifically, any removed cash is transported to a securearea where one or more individuals are involved in counting andrecording the various sums of cash and/or ticket vouchers removed fromeach EGM. The cash amounts removed from each EGM are reconciled withother information sources, such as from hard meters on the EGM orrecords from a server that generates and validates ticket vouchers. Thereconciliation process ensures the earnings from the EGM are properlytaxed. Additionally, the utilization of promotional tickets isassociated with the various costs of printing such promotional tickets,mailing such promotional tickets to players prior to such playersvisiting the gaming establishment and/or staffing a player service deskwith personal to redeem such promotional tickets. The utilization of awirelessly connected mobile device to facilitate one or more requestedactions as described herein reduces or eliminates these various costsassociated with utilizing cash, ticket vouchers and/or promotionaltickets.

Mobile Device/EGM Communications

In various embodiments, as indicated above, prior to utilizing a mobiledevice to take one or more actions, such as accessing funds maintainedin one or more of the gaming establishment accounts associated with aplayer or user, a pairing or linkage occurs between the mobile deviceand the gaming establishment device. The pairing or linkage between themobile device and the gaming establishment device occurs via one or moreapplications being run or executed on the mobile device. It should beappreciated that while described herein as linking a mobile device to anEGM, such linking may additionally or alternatively occur between themobile device and any suitable gaming establishment device located in agaming establishment, such as an electronic gaming table, a gamingterminal associated with one or more gaming tables, or a kiosk whichreceives wagers such as wagers on sporting events and/or any suitablegaming establishment device located in a non-gaming area of a gamingestablishment, such as a point-of-sale terminal located in a retail areaof a gaming establishment.

In various embodiments, the insertion and removal of an electronicplayer tracking card (i.e., the logging in and logging out of the playerfrom the player tracking system), and/or the facilitation of thetransfer of funds between a gaming establishment account maintained fora player and an EGM is accomplished by one or more wirelesscommunication protocols between the EGM and the mobile device. In suchembodiments, the EGM of the present disclosure includes one or moremobile device interfaces for communicating with a mobile deviceutilizing one or more wireless communication protocols including, butnot limited to: Bluetooth™ Bluetooth™ Low Energy (“BLE”), one or morecellular communication standards (e.g., 3G, 4G, LTE), one or more Wi-Ficompatible standards, and one or more short range communicationprotocols (e.g., a near field communication (“NFC”) protocol).

In certain embodiments, the communication with the mobile device canoccur through one or more wireless interfaces of the EGM. Such wirelessinterfaces are configured to receive information, such as informationassociated with one or more accounts and instructions to initiate atransfer of funds to and from a gaming establishment account and the EGMutilizing a mobile device.

In one embodiment, the wireless interface is integrated into the cabinetof the EGM and the EGM processor is configured to communicate directlywith and send control commands to the wireless interface. In anotherembodiment, the wireless interface is integrated into a device mountedto and/or within the EGM cabinet, such as a player tracking unit or aplayer identification device of a player tracking unit. In certainembodiments where the wireless interface is embedded in a secondarydevice, such as a player tracking unit, the EGM processor sends controlcommands to control the wireless interface via a secondary controller,such as a player tracking controller.

In certain embodiments disclosed herein, the wireless interfaceimplements an NFC protocol to facilitate the insertion and removal of anelectronic player tracking card (i.e., the logging in and logging out ofthe player from the player tracking system) and/or the transfer of fundsbetween a gaming establishment account maintained for a player and anEGM. In certain embodiments which utilize the NFC implementation, themobile device application registers a mobile device application with oneor more processors of the mobile device. In these embodiments, when themobile device is detected by an NFC reader of a component of a gamingestablishment management system supported by the EGM cabinet, such as aNexGen® player tracking component of an IGT Advantage® system, thecomponent of the gaming establishment management system supported by theEGM cabinet communicates one or more data messages to the mobile device(or to one or more servers which then communicate such data messages tothe mobile device). Such data messages are commands generated by thecomponent of the gaming establishment management system supported by theEGM cabinet when the mobile device is detected in the NFC reader field.The processor of the mobile device communicates the data message to themobile device application. The mobile device application responds, suchas communicating a triggering message, and a communication channel isopened between the component of the gaming establishment managementsystem supported by the EGM cabinet and the mobile device application(or between the component of the gaming establishment management systemsupported by the EGM cabinet, one or more servers and the mobile deviceapplication). This open communication channel enables the component ofthe gaming establishment management system supported by the EGM cabinetto send, though the NFC reader, additional data messages to the mobiledevice (or to the mobile device via one or more servers) which areresponded to by the mobile device application of the mobile device.

It should be appreciated that as long as the mobile device remainswithin the NFC field, the component of the gaming establishmentmanagement system supported by the EGM cabinet is configured tocommunicate with the mobile device and send data, such as statusupdates, as necessary. However, once the mobile device is removed fromthe NFC field, the communication channel is closed and such statusupdates must be discontinued.

In other embodiments, the wireless interface implements a Wi-Fi,cellular and/or Bluetooth™ communications protocol to facilitate theinsertion and removal of an electronic player tracking card (i.e., thelogging in and logging out of the player from the player trackingsystem) and/or the transfer of funds between a gaming establishmentaccount maintained for a player and an EGM. In such embodiments,Bluetooth™ pairing occurs when two Bluetooth devices agree tocommunicate with each other and establish a connection. In order to pairtwo Bluetooth wireless devices, a password (passkey) is exchangedbetween the two devices. The Passkey is a code shared by both Bluetoothdevices, which proves that both users have agreed to pair with eachother. After the passkey code is exchanged, an encrypted communicationcan be set up between the pair devices. In Wi-Fi paring, every pairingcan be set up with WPA2 encryption or another type of encryption schemeto keep the transfer private. Wi-Fi Direct is an example of a protocolthat can be used to establish point-to-point communications between twoWi-Fi devices. The protocol enables for a Wi-Fi device pair directlywith another without having to first join a local network.

It should be appreciated that Wi-Fi, cellular or Bluetooth™communication protocols can be used in lieu of or in combination withNFC. For instance, an NFC communication can be used to instantiate aWi-Fi or Bluetooth™ communication between the EGM, zero, one or moreservers and a mobile device, such as secure pairing using one of theseprotocols. That is, in one embodiment, an NFC interface on an EGM can beused to set-up a higher speed communication between the EGM, zero, oneor more servers and the NFC enabled mobile device. The higher speedcommunication rates can be used for expanded content sharing. Forinstance, a NFC and Bluetooth enabled EGM can be tapped by an NFC andBluetooth enabled mobile device for instant Bluetooth pairing betweenthe devices and zero, one or more servers. Instant Bluetooth pairingbetween an EGM, an NFC enabled mobile device and zero, one or moreservers, can save searching, waiting, and entering codes. In anotherexample, an EGM can be configured as an NFC enabled router, such as arouter supporting a Wi-Fi communication standard. Tapping an NFC enabledmobile device to an NFC enabled and Wi-Fi enabled EGM can be used toestablish a Wi-Fi connection between the devices and zero, one or moreservers.

In certain embodiments which implement a Wi-Fi, cellular and/orBluetooth™ communications protocol, the gaming system utilizes one ormore QR codes generated by the EGM to facilitate the communication ofdata between the mobile device and the gaming system. In suchembodiments, the QR code is used to identify the EGM that is displayingthe QR code to identify the server to which the mobile device shouldconnect. It should be appreciated that the QR code enables the gamingsystem to establish a secure tunnel or path from the mobile device tothe gaming establishment's Wi-Fi network and then to the gamingestablishment's wired network and finally to the EGM. In theseembodiments, a communication tunnel wrapper (i.e., a Wi-FiBluetooth™tunnel wrapper) is utilized to establish a connection between the gamingsystem and the mobile device and to transport any data messagesdescribed herein between the EGM, zero, one or more servers and themobile device.

More specifically, in certain embodiments, the player requests, via aninput at the EGM and/or the mobile device, the generation of a QR codeby the EGM. In response to the player's request, the EGM or a playertracking unit displays a QR code. In certain embodiments, the QR codeincludes a nonce which prevents a third-party (e.g., another player)from sniping the player's login attempt. Such an on-demand QR coderemains valid for a designated amount of time such that if the playerdoes not scan the QR code within the designated amount of time, anotherQR code is necessary to be scanned to connect the mobile device to theEGM.

In these embodiments, following the prompting to cause the EGM or playertracking unit to display a QR code and the instructions with how toproceed to Card In via scanning the displayed QR code with the mobiledevice, the player scans the QR code with the mobile device application.If the gaming system determines that the QR code is valid (i.e., notexpired), the mobile device application will connect to the gamingsystem. It should be appreciated that as long as the establishedconnection between the mobile device and the gaming system remainsactive, one or more gaming system servers and mobile device maycommunicate data, such as status updates, as necessary. It should befurther appreciated that in association with the Wi-Fi or Bluetooth™ ormobile device network communications protocol described herein, anyaction requested by the player via the mobile device application doesnot require a new engagement between the mobile device and the EGM, suchas a new scanning of the QR code to send such a requested action fromthe mobile device to the EGM (or to send a requested action from themobile device to one or more servers and then from one or more serversto the EGM).

In certain embodiments, following the scanning of a valid QR code, themobile device application connects to one or more servers. Such serversuse websockets secured with a transport layer security protocol or othersimilar mechanisms. In one such embodiment, the servers operate with oneor more translators and zero, one or more components of the gamingsystem, similarly using websockets secured with a transport layersecurity protocol, to communicate data to the EGM or a component of theEGM. It should be appreciated that in certain embodiments, one or moreof the servers are scalable servers configured to scale to acceptconnections from thousands of mobile devices.

In certain embodiments, after establishing a connection with one or moreservers, the mobile device application transmits a connect command tothe gaming system. In response to receiving a connect command from themobile device, the gaming system sends a message to the mobile device.This message serves to encapsulate various commands between the gamingsystem and the mobile device. In these embodiments, if the mobile deviceapplication does not receive this message within a designated period oftime, such as within five seconds, the mobile device applicationdisplays an error message to the player and directs the player to rescanthe QR code.

In addition to the connect command communicated from the mobile deviceapplication to the gaming system, the mobile device application of theseembodiments is configured to send a disconnect command to the gamingsystem. Such a disconnect command functions to tear-down the connectionthe server. That is, after the server receives the disconnect commandfrom the mobile device application, the server sends this disconnectcommand to the translator and close the websocket to the mobile deviceapplication. In these embodiments, if the websocket is not closed orotherwise terminated within a designated period of time, such as fiveseconds, the mobile device application may retry communicating thiscommand or close the websocket. It should be appreciated that if themobile device connection is severed before this command is received bythe gaming system, the sever sends this command on behalf of the mobiledevice application;

In another embodiment, the mobile device application is configured tosend a trigger command to the gaming system, such as a component of thegaming establishment management system supported by the EGM cabinet. Inthis embodiment, the trigger command is associated with an actionrequested by the player, such as a transfer of funds to or from the EGM.In such embodiments, when the gaming system receives the trigger commandfrom the mobile device application, the gaming system will communicatethe appropriate requests to the mobile device application. If the mobiledevice application does not receive these requests within a designatedamount of time, such as five seconds, the mobile device application willdisplay an error message to the player and enable the player to retrythe requested action.

In other embodiments, the mobile device application communicates withthe gaming system through a tunnel established over the mobile device'sWi-FI network or the mobile device's network connection. In suchembodiments, the mobile device application will connect to one or moregaming system servers which use websockets secured with a transportlayer security protocol. The gaming system server operates with one ormore translators, similarly using websockets secured with a transportlayer security protocol to communicate data to the EGM or a component ofthe EGM.

In certain embodiments which utilize the NFC communication protocoldescribed herein, which utilize the Wi-Fi, cellular and/or Bluetooth™communication protocols described herein and/or which utilize any othercommunication protocol described herein, any action requested by theplayer via the mobile device application requires a new engagementbetween the mobile device and the EGM, such as a new tap of the mobiledevice to a card reader or other designated location(s) of the EGM. Incertain other embodiments which utilize the NFC communication protocoldescribed herein, which utilize the Wi-Fi, cellular and/or Bluetooth™communication protocols described herein and/or which utilize any othercommunication protocol described herein, certain actions requested bythe player via the mobile device application requires a new engagementbetween the mobile device and the EGM, such as a new tap of the mobiledevice to a card reader or other designated location(s) of the EGM andother actions requested by the player via the mobile device applicationdo not require any new engagement between the mobile device and the EGM.

Gaming Systems

The above-described embodiments of the present disclosure may beimplemented in accordance with or in conjunction with one or more of avariety of different types of gaming systems, such as, but not limitedto, those described below.

The present disclosure contemplates a variety of different gamingsystems each having one or more of a plurality of different features,attributes, or characteristics. A “gaming system” as used herein refersto various configurations of: (a) one or more central servers, centralcontrollers, or remote hosts; (b) one or more electronic gaming machinessuch as those located on a casino floor; and/or (c) one or more personalgaming devices, such as desktop computers, laptop computers, tabletcomputers or computing devices, personal digital assistants, mobilephones, and other mobile computing devices. Moreover, an EGM as usedherein refers to any suitable electronic gaming machine which enables aplayer to play a game (including but not limited to a game of chance, agame of skill, and/or a game of partial skill) to potentially win one ormore awards, wherein the EGM comprises, but is not limited to: a slotmachine, a video poker machine, a video lottery terminal, a terminalassociated with an electronic table game, a video keno machine, a videobingo machine located on a casino floor, a sports betting terminal, or akiosk, such as a sports betting kiosk.

In various embodiments, the gaming system of the present disclosureincludes: (a) one or more electronic gaming machines in combination withone or more central servers, central controllers, or remote hosts; (b)one or more personal gaming devices in combination with one or morecentral servers, central controllers, or remote hosts; (c) one or morepersonal gaming devices in combination with one or more electronicgaming machines; (d) one or more personal gaming devices, one or moreelectronic gaming machines, and one or more central servers, centralcontrollers, or remote hosts in combination with one another; (e) asingle electronic gaming machine; (f) a plurality of electronic gamingmachines in combination with one another; (g) a single personal gamingdevice; (h) a plurality of personal gaming devices in combination withone another; (i) a single central server, central controller, or remotehost; and/or (j) a plurality of central servers, central controllers, orremote hosts in combination with one another.

For brevity and clarity and unless specifically stated otherwise, “EGM”as used herein represents one EGM or a plurality of EGMs, “personalgaming device” as used herein represents one personal gaming device or aplurality of personal gaming devices, and “central server, centralcontroller, or remote host” as used herein represents one centralserver, central controller, or remote host or a plurality of centralservers, central controllers, or remote hosts.

As noted above, in various embodiments, the gaming system includes anEGM (or personal gaming device) in combination with a central server,central controller, or remote host. In such embodiments, the EGM (orpersonal gaming device) is configured to communicate with the centralserver, central controller, or remote host through a data network orremote communication link. In certain such embodiments, the EGM (orpersonal gaming device) is configured to communicate with another EGM(or personal gaming device) through the same data network or remotecommunication link or through a different data network or remotecommunication link. For example, the gaming system includes a pluralityof EGMs that are each configured to communicate with a central server,central controller, or remote host through a data network.

In certain embodiments in which the gaming system includes an EGM (orpersonal gaming device) in combination with a central server, centralcontroller, or remote host, the central server, central controller, orremote host is any suitable computing device (such as a server) thatincludes at least one processor and at least one memory device or datastorage device. As further described herein, the EGM (or personal gamingdevice) includes at least one EGM (or personal gaming device) processorconfigured to transmit and receive data or signals representing events,messages, commands, or any other suitable information between the EGM(or personal gaming device) and the central server, central controller,or remote host. The at least one processor of that EGM (or personalgaming device) is configured to execute the events, messages, orcommands represented by such data or signals in conjunction with theoperation of the EGM (or personal gaming device). Moreover, the at leastone processor of the central server, central controller, or remote hostis configured to transmit and receive data or signals representingevents, messages, commands, or any other suitable information betweenthe central server, central controller, or remote host and the EGM (orpersonal gaming device). The at least one processor of the centralserver, central controller, or remote host is configured to execute theevents, messages, or commands represented by such data or signals inconjunction with the operation of the central server, centralcontroller, or remote host. One, more than one, or each of the functionsof the central server, central controller, or remote host may beperformed by the at least one processor of the EGM (or personal gamingdevice). Further, one, more than one, or each of the functions of the atleast one processor of the EGM (or personal gaming device) may beperformed by the at least one processor of the central server, centralcontroller, or remote host.

In certain such embodiments, computerized instructions for controllingany games (such as any primary or base games and/or any secondary orbonus games) displayed by the EGM (or personal gaming device) areexecuted by the central server, central controller, or remote host. Insuch “thin client” embodiments, the central server, central controller,or remote host remotely controls any games (or other suitableinterfaces) displayed by the EGM (or personal gaming device), and theEGM (or personal gaming device) is utilized to display such games (orsuitable interfaces) and to receive one or more inputs or commands. Inother such embodiments, computerized instructions for controlling anygames displayed by the EGM (or personal gaming device) are communicatedfrom the central server, central controller, or remote host to the EGM(or personal gaming device) and are stored in at least one memory deviceof the EGM (or personal gaming device). In such “thick client”embodiments, the at least one processor of the EGM (or personal gamingdevice) executes the computerized instructions to control any games (orother suitable interfaces) displayed by the EGM (or personal gamingdevice).

In various embodiments in which the gaming system includes a pluralityof EGMs (or personal gaming devices), one or more of the EGMs (orpersonal gaming devices) are thin client EGMs (or personal gamingdevices) and one or more of the EGMs (or personal gaming devices) arethick client EGMs (or personal gaming devices). In other embodiments inwhich the gaming system includes one or more EGMs (or personal gamingdevices), certain functions of one or more of the EGMs (or personalgaming devices) are implemented in a thin client environment, andcertain other functions of one or more of the EGMs (or personal gamingdevices) are implemented in a thick client environment. In one suchembodiment in which the gaming system includes an EGM (or personalgaming device) and a central server, central controller, or remote host,computerized instructions for controlling any primary or base gamesdisplayed by the EGM (or personal gaming device) are communicated fromthe central server, central controller, or remote host to the EGM (orpersonal gaming device) in a thick client configuration, andcomputerized instructions for controlling any secondary or bonus gamesor other functions displayed by the EGM (or personal gaming device) areexecuted by the central server, central controller, or remote host in athin client configuration.

In certain embodiments in which the gaming system includes: (a) an EGM(or personal gaming device) configured to communicate with a centralserver, central controller, or remote host through a data network;and/or (b) a plurality of EGMs (or personal gaming devices) configuredto communicate with one another through a data network, the data networkis a local area network (LAN) in which the EGMs (or personal gamingdevices) are located substantially proximate to one another and/or thecentral server, central controller, or remote host. In one example, theEGMs (or personal gaming devices) and the central server, centralcontroller, or remote host are located in a gaming establishment or aportion of a gaming establishment.

In other embodiments in which the gaming system includes: (a) an EGM (orpersonal gaming device) configured to communicate with a central server,central controller, or remote host through a data network; and/or (b) aplurality of EGMs (or personal gaming devices) configured to communicatewith one another through a data network, the data network is a wide areanetwork (WAN) in which one or more of the EGMs (or personal gamingdevices) are not necessarily located substantially proximate to anotherone of the EGMs (or personal gaming devices) and/or the central server,central controller, or remote host. For example, one or more of the EGMs(or personal gaming devices) are located: (a) in an area of a gamingestablishment different from an area of the gaming establishment inwhich the central server, central controller, or remote host is located;or (b) in a gaming establishment different from the gaming establishmentin which the central server, central controller, or remote host islocated. In another example, the central server, central controller, orremote host is not located within a gaming establishment in which theEGMs (or personal gaming devices) are located. In certain embodiments inwhich the data network is a WAN, the gaming system includes a centralserver, central controller, or remote host and an EGM (or personalgaming device) each located in a different gaming establishment in asame geographic area, such as a same city or a same state. Gamingsystems in which the data network is a WAN are substantially identicalto gaming systems in which the data network is a LAN, though thequantity of EGMs (or personal gaming devices) in such gaming systems mayvary relative to one another.

In further embodiments in which the gaming system includes: (a) an EGM(or personal gaming device) configured to communicate with a centralserver, central controller, or remote host through a data network;and/or (b) a plurality of EGMs (or personal gaming devices) configuredto communicate with one another through a data network, the data networkis an internet (such as the Internet) or an intranet. In certain suchembodiments, an Internet browser of the EGM (or personal gaming device)is usable to access an Internet game page from any location where anInternet connection is available. In one such embodiment, after the EGM(or personal gaming device) accesses the Internet game page, the centralserver, central controller, or remote host identifies a player beforeenabling that player to place any wagers on any plays of any wageringgames. In one example, the central server, central controller, or remotehost identifies the player by requiring a player account of the playerto be logged into via an input of a unique player name and passwordcombination assigned to the player. The central server, centralcontroller, or remote host may, however, identify the player in anyother suitable manner, such as by validating a player trackingidentification number associated with the player; by reading a playertracking card or other smart card inserted into a card reader (asdescribed below); by validating a unique player identification numberassociated with the player by the central server, central controller, orremote host; or by identifying the EGM (or personal gaming device), suchas by identifying the MAC address or the IP address of the Internetfacilitator. In various embodiments, once the central server, centralcontroller, or remote host identifies the player, the central server,central controller, or remote host enables placement of one or morewagers on one or more plays of one or more primary or base games and/orone or more secondary or bonus games, and displays those plays via theInternet browser of the EGM (or personal gaming device). Examples ofimplementations of Internet-based gaming are further described in U.S.Pat. No. 8,764,566, entitled “Internet Remote Game Server,” and U.S.Pat. No. 8,147,334, entitled “Universal Game Server”.

The central server, central controller, or remote host and the EGM (orpersonal gaming device) are configured to connect to the data network orremote communications link in any suitable manner. In variousembodiments, such a connection is accomplished via: a conventional phoneline or other data transmission line, a digital subscriber line (DSL), aT-1 line, a coaxial cable, a fiber optic cable, a wireless or wiredrouting device, a mobile communications network connection (such as acellular network or mobile Internet network), or any other suitablemedium. The expansion in the quantity of computing devices and thequantity and speed of Internet connections in recent years increasesopportunities for players to use a variety of EGMs (or personal gamingdevices) to play games from an ever-increasing quantity of remote sites.Additionally, the enhanced bandwidth of digital wireless communicationsmay render such technology suitable for some or all communications,particularly if such communications are encrypted. Higher datatransmission speeds may be useful for enhancing the sophistication andresponse of the display and interaction with players.

EGM Components

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of an example EGM 1000 and FIGS. 4A and 4Binclude two different example EGMs 2000 a and 2000 b. The EGMs 1000,2000 a, and 2000 b are merely example EGMs, and different EGMs may beimplemented using different combinations of the components shown in theEGMs 1000, 2000 a, and 2000 b. Although the below refers to EGMs, invarious embodiments personal gaming devices (such as personal gamingdevice 2000 c of FIG. 4C) may include some or all of the belowcomponents.

In these embodiments, the EGM 1000 includes a master gaming controller1012 configured to communicate with and to operate with a plurality ofperipheral devices 1022.

The master gaming controller 1012 includes at least one processor 1010.The at least one processor 1010 is any suitable processing device or setof processing devices, such as a microprocessor, a microcontroller-basedplatform, a suitable integrated circuit, or one or moreapplication-specific integrated circuits (ASICs), configured to executesoftware enabling various configuration and reconfiguration tasks, suchas: (1) communicating with a remote source (such as a server that storesauthentication information or game information) via a communicationinterface 1006 of the master gaming controller 1012; (2) convertingsignals read by an interface to a format corresponding to that used bysoftware or memory of the EGM; (3) accessing memory to configure orreconfigure game parameters in the memory according to indicia read fromthe EGM; (4) communicating with interfaces and the peripheral devices1022 (such as input/output devices); and/or (5) controlling theperipheral devices 1022. In certain embodiments, one or more componentsof the master gaming controller 1012 (such as the at least one processor1010) reside within a housing of the EGM (described below), while inother embodiments at least one component of the master gaming controller1012 resides outside of the housing of the EGM.

The master gaming controller 1012 also includes at least one memorydevice 1016, which includes: (1) volatile memory (e.g., RAM 1009, whichcan include non-volatile RAM, magnetic RAM, ferroelectric RAM, and anyother suitable forms); (2) non-volatile memory 1019 (e.g., disk memory,FLASH memory, EPROMs, EEPROMs, memristor-based non-volatile solid-statememory, etc.); (3) unalterable memory (e.g., EPROMs 1008); (4) read-onlymemory; and/or (5) a secondary memory storage device 1015, such as anon-volatile memory device, configured to store gaming software relatedinformation (the gaming software related information and the memory maybe used to store various audio files and games not currently being usedand invoked in a configuration or reconfiguration). Any other suitablemagnetic, optical, and/or semiconductor memory may operate inconjunction with the EGM disclosed herein. In certain embodiments, theat least one memory device 1016 resides within the housing of the EGM(described below), while in other embodiments at least one component ofthe at least one memory device 1016 resides outside of the housing ofthe EGM. In these embodiments, any combination of one or more computerreadable media may be utilized. The computer readable media may be acomputer readable signal medium or a computer readable storage medium. Acomputer readable storage medium may be, for example, but not limitedto, an electronic, magnetic, optical, electromagnetic, or semiconductorsystem, apparatus, or device, or any suitable combination of theforegoing. More specific examples (a non-exhaustive list) of thecomputer readable storage medium would include the following: a portablecomputer diskette, a hard disk, a random access memory (RAM), aread-only memory (ROM), an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROMor Flash memory), an appropriate optical fiber with a repeater, aportable compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM), an optical storagedevice, a magnetic storage device, or any suitable combination of theforegoing. In the context of this document, a computer readable storagemedium may be any tangible medium that can contain, or store a programfor use by or in connection with an instruction execution system,apparatus, or device.

A computer readable signal medium may include a propagated data signalwith computer readable program code embodied therein, for example, inbaseband or as part of a carrier wave. Such a propagated signal may takeany of a variety of forms, including, but not limited to,electro-magnetic, optical, or any suitable combination thereof. Acomputer readable signal medium may be any computer readable medium thatis not a computer readable storage medium and that can communicate,propagate, or transport a program for use by or in connection with aninstruction execution system, apparatus, or device. Program codeembodied on a computer readable signal medium may be transmitted usingany appropriate medium, including but not limited to wireless, wireline,optical fiber cable, RF, etc., or any suitable combination of theforegoing.

The at least one memory device 1016 is configured to store, for example:(1) configuration software 1014, such as all the parameters and settingsfor a game playable on the EGM; (2) associations 1018 betweenconfiguration indicia read from an EGM with one or more parameters andsettings; (3) communication protocols configured to enable the at leastone processor 1010 to communicate with the peripheral devices 1022;and/or (4) communication transport protocols (such as TCP/IP, USB,Firewire, IEEE1394, Bluetooth, IEEE 802.11x (IEEE 802.11 standards),hiperlan/2, HomeRF, etc.) configured to enable the EGM to communicatewith local and non-local devices using such protocols. In oneimplementation, the master gaming controller 1012 communicates withother devices using a serial communication protocol. A few non-limitingexamples of serial communication protocols that other devices, such asperipherals (e.g., a bill validator or a ticket printer), may use tocommunicate with the master game controller 1012 include USB, RS-232,and Netplex (a proprietary protocol developed by IGT).

As will be appreciated by one skilled in the art, aspects of the presentdisclosure may be illustrated and described herein in any of a number ofpatentable classes or context including any new and useful process,machine, manufacture, or composition of matter, or any new and usefulimprovement thereof. Accordingly, aspects of the present disclosure maybe implemented entirely hardware, entirely software (including firmware,resident software, micro-code, etc.) or combining software and hardwareimplementation that may all generally be referred to herein as a“circuit,” “module,” “component,” or “system.” Furthermore, aspects ofthe present disclosure may take the form of a computer program productembodied in one or more computer readable media having computer readableprogram code embodied thereon.

Computer program code for carrying out operations for aspects of thepresent disclosure may be written in any combination of one or moreprogramming languages, including an object oriented programming languagesuch as Java, Scala, Smalltalk, Eiffel, JADE, Emerald, C++, C#, VB.NET,Python or the like, conventional procedural programming languages, suchas the “C” programming language, Visual Basic, Fortran 2003, Perl, COBOL2002, PHP, ABAP, dynamic programming languages such as Python, Ruby andGroovy, or other programming languages. The program code may executeentirely on the player's computer, partly on the player's computer, as astand-alone software package, partly on the player's computer and partlyon a remote computer or entirely on the remote computer or server. Inthe latter scenario, the remote computer may be connected to theplayer's computer through any type of network, including a local areanetwork (LAN) or a wide area network (WAN), or the connection may bemade to an external computer (for example, through the Internet using anInternet Service Provider) or in a cloud computing environment oroffered as a service such as a Software as a Service (SaaS).

Aspects of the present disclosure are described herein with reference toflowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams of methods, apparatuses(systems) and computer program products according to embodiments of thedisclosure. It will be understood that each block of the flowchartillustrations and/or block diagrams, and combinations of blocks in theflowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams, can be implemented bycomputer program instructions. These computer program instructions maybe provided to a processor of a general purpose computer, specialpurpose computer, or other programmable data processing apparatus toproduce a machine, such that the instructions, which execute via theprocessor of the computer or other programmable instruction executionapparatus, create a mechanism for implementing the functions/actsspecified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block or blocks.

These computer program instructions may also be stored in a computerreadable medium that when executed can direct a computer, otherprogrammable data processing apparatus, or other devices to function ina particular manner, such that the instructions when stored in thecomputer readable medium produce an article of manufacture includinginstructions which when executed, cause a computer to implement thefunction/act specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block orblocks. The computer program instructions may also be loaded onto acomputer, other programmable instruction execution apparatus, or otherdevices to cause a series of operational steps to be performed on thecomputer, other programmable apparatuses or other devices to produce acomputer implemented process such that the instructions which execute onthe computer or other programmable apparatus provide processes forimplementing the functions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or blockdiagram block or blocks.

In certain embodiments, the at least one memory device 1016 isconfigured to store program code and instructions executable by the atleast one processor of the EGM to control the EGM. The at least onememory device 1016 of the EGM also stores other operating data, such asimage data, event data, input data, random number generators (RNGs) orpseudo-RNGs, paytable data or information, and/or applicable game rulesthat relate to the play of one or more games on the EGM. In variousembodiments, part or all of the program code and/or the operating datadescribed above is stored in at least one detachable or removable memorydevice including, but not limited to, a cartridge, a disk, a CD ROM, aDVD, a USB memory device, or any other suitable non-transitory computerreadable medium. In certain such embodiments, an operator (such as agaming establishment operator) and/or a player uses such a removablememory device in an EGM to implement at least part of the presentdisclosure. In other embodiments, part or all of the program code and/orthe operating data is downloaded to the at least one memory device ofthe EGM through any suitable data network described above (such as anInternet or intranet).

The at least one memory device 1016 also stores a plurality of devicedrivers 1042. Examples of different types of device drivers includedevice drivers for EGM components and device drivers for the peripheralcomponents 1022. Typically, the device drivers 1042 utilize variouscommunication protocols that enable communication with a particularphysical device. The device driver abstracts the hardware implementationof that device. For example, a device driver may be written for eachtype of card reader that could potentially be connected to the EGM.Non-limiting examples of communication protocols used to implement thedevice drivers include Netplex, USB, Serial, Ethernet 175, Firewire, I/Odebouncer, direct memory map, serial, PCI, parallel, RF, Bluetooth™,near-field communications (e.g., using near-field magnetics), 802.11(WiFi), etc. In one embodiment, when one type of a particular device isexchanged for another type of the particular device, the at least oneprocessor of the EGM loads the new device driver from the at least onememory device to enable communication with the new device. For instance,one type of card reader in the EGM can be replaced with a seconddifferent type of card reader when device drivers for both card readersare stored in the at least one memory device.

In certain embodiments, the software units stored in the at least onememory device 1016 can be upgraded as needed. For instance, when the atleast one memory device 1016 is a hard drive, new games, new gameoptions, new parameters, new settings for existing parameters, newsettings for new parameters, new device drivers, and new communicationprotocols can be uploaded to the at least one memory device 1016 fromthe master game controller 1012 or from some other external device. Asanother example, when the at least one memory device 1016 includes aCD/DVD drive including a CD/DVD configured to store game options,parameters, and settings, the software stored in the at least one memorydevice 1016 can be upgraded by replacing a first CD/DVD with a secondCD/DVD. In yet another example, when the at least one memory device 1016uses flash memory 1019 or EPROM 1008 units configured to store games,game options, parameters, and settings, the software stored in the flashand/or EPROM memory units can be upgraded by replacing one or morememory units with new memory units that include the upgraded software.In another embodiment, one or more of the memory devices, such as thehard drive, may be employed in a game software download process from aremote software server.

In some embodiments, the at least one memory device 1016 also storesauthentication and/or validation components 1044 configured toauthenticate/validate specified EGM components and/or information, suchas hardware components, software components, firmware components,peripheral device components, player input device components,information received from one or more player input devices, informationstored in the at least one memory device 1016, etc. Examples of variousauthentication and/or validation components are described in U.S. Pat.No. 6,620,047, entitled “Electronic Gaming Apparatus HavingAuthentication Data Sets”.

In certain embodiments, the peripheral devices 1022 include severaldevice interfaces, such as: (1) at least one output device 1020including at least one display device 1035; (2) at least one inputdevice 1030 (which may include contact and/or non-contact interfaces);(3) at least one transponder 1054; (4) at least one wirelesscommunication component 1056; (5) at least one wired/wireless powerdistribution component 1058; (6) at least one sensor 1060; (7) at leastone data preservation component 1062; (8) at least one motion/gestureanalysis and interpretation component 1064; (9) at least one motiondetection component 1066; (10) at least one portable power source 1068;(11) at least one geolocation module 1076; (12) at least one playeridentification module 1077; (13) at least one player/device trackingmodule 1078; and (14) at least one information filtering module 1079.

The at least one output device 1020 includes at least one display device1035 configured to display any game(s) displayed by the EGM and anysuitable information associated with such game(s). In certainembodiments, the display devices are connected to or mounted on ahousing of the EGM (described below). In various embodiments, thedisplay devices serve as digital glass configured to advertise certaingames or other aspects of the gaming establishment in which the EGM islocated. In various embodiments, the EGM includes one or more of thefollowing display devices: (a) a central display device; (b) a playertracking display configured to display various information regarding aplayer's player tracking status (as described below); (c) a secondary orupper display device in addition to the central display device and theplayer tracking display; (d) a credit display configured to display acurrent quantity of credits, amount of cash, account balance, or theequivalent; and (e) a bet display configured to display an amountwagered for one or more plays of one or more games. The example EGM 2000a illustrated in FIG. 4A includes a central display device 2116, aplayer tracking display 2140, a credit display 2120, and a bet display2122. The example EGM 2000 b illustrated in FIG. 4B includes a centraldisplay device 2116, an upper display device 2118, a player trackingdisplay 2140, a credit display 2120, and a bet display 2122.

In various embodiments, the display devices include, without limitation:a monitor, a television display, a plasma display, a liquid crystaldisplay (LCD), a display based on light emitting diodes (LEDs), adisplay based on a plurality of organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs), adisplay based on polymer light-emitting diodes (PLEDs), a display basedon a plurality of surface-conduction electron-emitters (SEDs), a displayincluding a projected and/or reflected image, or any other suitableelectronic device or display mechanism. In certain embodiments, asdescribed above, the display device includes a touch-screen with anassociated touch-screen controller. The display devices may be of anysuitable sizes, shapes, and configurations.

The display devices of the EGM are configured to display one or moregame and/or non-game images, symbols, and indicia. In certainembodiments, the display devices of the EGM are configured to displayany suitable visual representation or exhibition of the movement ofobjects; dynamic lighting; video images; images of people, characters,places, things, and faces of cards; and the like. In certainembodiments, the display devices of the EGM are configured to displayone or more video reels, one or more video wheels, and/or one or morevideo dice. In other embodiments, certain of the displayed images,symbols, and indicia are in mechanical form. That is, in theseembodiments, the display device includes any electromechanical device,such as one or more rotatable wheels, one or more reels, and/or one ormore dice, configured to display at least one or a plurality of game orother suitable images, symbols, or indicia.

In various embodiments, the at least one output device 1020 includes apayout device. In these embodiments, after the EGM receives an actuationof a cashout device (described below), the EGM causes the payout deviceto provide a payment to the player. In one embodiment, the payout deviceis one or more of: (a) a ticket printer and dispenser configured toprint and dispense a ticket or credit slip associated with a monetaryvalue, wherein the ticket or credit slip may be redeemed for itsmonetary value via a cashier, a kiosk, or other suitable redemptionsystem; (b) a bill dispenser configured to dispense paper currency; (c)a coin dispenser configured to dispense coins or tokens (such as into acoin payout tray); and (d) any suitable combination thereof. The exampleEGMs 2000 a and 2000 b illustrated in FIGS. 4A and 4B each include aticket printer and dispenser 2136. Examples of ticket-in ticket-out(TITO) technology are described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,429,361, entitled“Gaming Machine Information, Communication and Display System”; U.S.Pat. No. 5,470,079, entitled “Gaming Machine Accounting and MonitoringSystem”; U.S. Pat. No. 5,265,874, entitled “Cashless Gaming Apparatusand Method”; U.S. Pat. No. 6,729,957, entitled “Gaming Method and HostComputer with Ticket-In/Ticket-Out Capability”; U.S. Pat. No. 6,729,958,entitled “Gaming System with Ticket-In/Ticket-Out Capability”; U.S. Pat.No. 6,736,725, entitled “Gaming Method and Host Computer withTicket-In/Ticket-Out Capability”; U.S. Pat. No. 7,275,991, entitled“Slot Machine with Ticket-In/Ticket-Out Capability”; and U.S. Pat. No.6,048,269, entitled “Coinless Slot Machine System and Method”.

In certain embodiments, rather than dispensing bills, coins, or aphysical ticket having a monetary value to the player following receiptof an actuation of the cashout device, the payout device is configuredto cause a payment to be provided to the player in the form of anelectronic funds transfer, such as via a direct deposit into a bankaccount, a casino account, or a prepaid account of the player; via atransfer of funds onto an electronically recordable identification cardor smart card of the player; or via sending a virtual ticket having amonetary value to an electronic device of the player. Examples ofproviding payment using virtual tickets are described in U.S. Pat. No.8,613,659, entitled “Virtual Ticket-In and Ticket-Out on a GamingMachine”.

While any credit balances, any wagers, any values, and any awards aredescribed herein as amounts of monetary credits or currency, one or moreof such credit balances, such wagers, such values, and such awards maybe for non-monetary credits, promotional credits, of player trackingpoints or credits.

In certain embodiments, the at least one output device 1020 is a soundgenerating device controlled by one or more sound cards. In one suchembodiment, the sound generating device includes one or more speakers orother sound generating hardware and/or software configured to generatesounds, such as by playing music for any games or by playing music forother modes of the EGM, such as an attract mode. The example EGMs 2000 aand 2000 b illustrated in FIGS. 4A and 4B each include a plurality ofspeakers 2150. In another such embodiment, the EGM provides dynamicsounds coupled with attractive multimedia images displayed on one ormore of the display devices to provide an audio-visual representation orto otherwise display full-motion video with sound to attract players tothe EGM. In certain embodiments, the EGM displays a sequence of audioand/or visual attraction messages during idle periods to attractpotential players to the EGM. The videos may be customized to provideany appropriate information.

The at least one input device 1030 may include any suitable device thatenables an input signal to be produced and received by the at least oneprocessor 1010 of the EGM.

In one embodiment, the at least one input device 1030 includes a paymentdevice configured to communicate with the at least one processor of theEGM to fund the EGM. In certain embodiments, the payment device includesone or more of: (a) a bill acceptor into which paper money is insertedto fund the EGM; (b) a ticket acceptor into which a ticket or a voucheris inserted to fund the EGM; (c) a coin slot into which coins or tokensare inserted to fund the EGM; (d) a reader or a validator for creditcards, debit cards, or credit slips into which a credit card, debitcard, or credit slip is inserted to fund the EGM; (e) a playeridentification card reader into which a player identification card isinserted to fund the EGM; or (f) any suitable combination thereof. Theexample EGMs 2000 a and 2000 b illustrated in FIGS. 4A and 4B eachinclude a combined bill and ticket acceptor 2128 and a coin slot 2126.

In one embodiment, the at least one input device 1030 includes a paymentdevice configured to enable the EGM to be funded via an electronic fundstransfer, such as a transfer of funds from a bank account. In anotherembodiment, the EGM includes a payment device configured to communicatewith a mobile device of a player, such as a mobile phone, a radiofrequency identification tag, or any other suitable wired or wirelessdevice, to retrieve relevant information associated with that player tofund the EGM. Examples of funding an EGM via communication between theEGM and a mobile device (such as a mobile phone) of a player aredescribed in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2013/0344942,entitled “Avatar as Security Measure for Mobile Device Use withElectronic Gaming Machine”. When the EGM is funded, the at least oneprocessor determines the amount of funds entered and displays thecorresponding amount on a credit display or any other suitable displayas described below.

In certain embodiments, the at least one input device 1030 includes atleast one wagering or betting device. In various embodiments, the one ormore wagering or betting devices are each: (1) a mechanical buttonsupported by the housing of the EGM (such as a hard key or aprogrammable soft key), or (2) an icon displayed on a display device ofthe EGM (described below) that is actuatable via a touch screen of theEGM (described below) or via use of a suitable input device of the EGM(such as a mouse or a joystick). One such wagering or betting device isas a maximum wager or bet device that, when actuated, causes the EGM toplace a maximum wager on a play of a game. Another such wagering orbetting device is a repeat bet device that, when actuated, causes theEGM to place a wager that is equal to the previously-placed wager on aplay of a game. A further such wagering or betting device is a bet onedevice that, when actuated, causes the EGM to increase the wager by onecredit. Generally, upon actuation of one of the wagering or bettingdevices, the quantity of credits displayed in a credit meter (describedbelow) decreases by the amount of credits wagered, while the quantity ofcredits displayed in a bet display (described below) increases by theamount of credits wagered.

In various embodiments, the at least one input device 1030 includes atleast one game play activation device. In various embodiments, the oneor more game play initiation devices are each: (1) a mechanical buttonsupported by the housing of the EGM (such as a hard key or aprogrammable soft key), or (2) an icon displayed on a display device ofthe EGM (described below) that is actuatable via a touch screen of theEGM (described below) or via use of a suitable input device of the EGM(such as a mouse or a joystick). After a player appropriately funds theEGM and places a wager, the EGM activates the game play activationdevice to enable the player to actuate the game play activation deviceto initiate a play of a game on the EGM (or another suitable sequence ofevents associated with the EGM). After the EGM receives an actuation ofthe game play activation device, the EGM initiates the play of the game.The example EGMs 2000 a and 2000 b illustrated in FIGS. 4A and 4B eachinclude a game play activation device in the form of a game playinitiation button 2132. In other embodiments, the EGM begins game playautomatically upon appropriate funding rather than upon utilization ofthe game play activation device.

In other embodiments, the at least one input device 1030 includes acashout device. In various embodiments, the cashout device is: (1) amechanical button supported by the housing of the EGM (such as a hardkey or a programmable soft key), or (2) an icon displayed on a displaydevice of the EGM (described below) that is actuatable via a touchscreen of the EGM (described below) or via use of a suitable inputdevice of the EGM (such as a mouse or a joystick). When the EGM receivesan actuation of the cashout device from a player and the player has apositive (i.e., greater-than-zero) credit balance, the EGM initiates apayout associated with the player's credit balance. The example EGMs2000 a and 2000 b illustrated in FIGS. 4A and 4B each include a cashoutdevice in the form of a cashout button 2134.

In various embodiments, the at least one input device 1030 includes aplurality of buttons that are programmable by the EGM operator to, whenactuated, cause the EGM to perform particular functions. For instance,such buttons may be hard keys, programmable soft keys, or icons icondisplayed on a display device of the EGM (described below) that areactuatable via a touch screen of the EGM (described below) or via use ofa suitable input device of the EGM (such as a mouse or a joystick). Theexample EGMs 2000 a and 2000 b illustrated in FIGS. 4A and 4B eachinclude a plurality of such buttons 2130.

In certain embodiments, the at least one input device 1030 includes atouch-screen coupled to a touch-screen controller or othertouch-sensitive display overlay to enable interaction with any imagesdisplayed on a display device (as described below). One such inputdevice is a conventional touch-screen button panel. The touch-screen andthe touch-screen controller are connected to a video controller. Inthese embodiments, signals are input to the EGM by touching the touchscreen at the appropriate locations.

In embodiments including a player tracking system, as further describedbelow, the at least one input device 1030 includes a card reader incommunication with the at least one processor of the EGM. The exampleEGMs 2000 a and 2000 b illustrated in FIGS. 4A and 4B each include acard reader 2138. The card reader is configured to read a playeridentification card inserted into the card reader.

The at least one wireless communication component 1056 includes one ormore communication interfaces having different architectures andutilizing a variety of protocols, such as (but not limited to) 802.11(WiFi); 802.15 (including Bluetooth™); 802.16 (WiMax); 802.22; cellularstandards such as CDMA, CDMA2000, and WCDMA; Radio Frequency (e.g.,RFID); infrared; and Near Field Magnetic communication protocols. The atleast one wireless communication component 1056 transmits electrical,electromagnetic, or optical signals that carry digital data streams oranalog signals representing various types of information.

The at least one wired/wireless power distribution component 1058includes components or devices that are configured to provide power toother devices. For example, in one embodiment, the at least one powerdistribution component 1058 includes a magnetic induction system that isconfigured to provide wireless power to one or more player input devicesnear the EGM. In one embodiment, a player input device docking region isprovided, and includes a power distribution component that is configuredto recharge a player input device without requiring metal-to-metalcontact. In one embodiment, the at least one power distributioncomponent 1058 is configured to distribute power to one or more internalcomponents of the EGM, such as one or more rechargeable power sources(e.g., rechargeable batteries) located at the EGM.

In certain embodiments, the at least one sensor 1060 includes at leastone of: optical sensors, pressure sensors, RF sensors, infrared sensors,image sensors, thermal sensors, and biometric sensors. The at least onesensor 1060 may be used for a variety of functions, such as: detectingmovements and/or gestures of various objects within a predeterminedproximity to the EGM; detecting the presence and/or identity of variouspersons (e.g., players, casino employees, etc.), devices (e.g., playerinput devices), and/or systems within a predetermined proximity to theEGM.

The at least one data preservation component 1062 is configured todetect or sense one or more events and/or conditions that, for example,may result in damage to the EGM and/or that may result in loss ofinformation associated with the EGM. Additionally, the data preservationsystem 1062 may be operable to initiate one or more appropriateaction(s) in response to the detection of such events/conditions.

The at least one motion/gesture analysis and interpretation component1064 is configured to analyze and/or interpret information relating todetected player movements and/or gestures to determine appropriateplayer input information relating to the detected player movementsand/or gestures. For example, in one embodiment, the at least onemotion/gesture analysis and interpretation component 1064 is configuredto perform one or more of the following functions: analyze the detectedgross motion or gestures of a player; interpret the player's motion orgestures (e.g., in the context of a casino game being played) toidentify instructions or input from the player; utilize the interpretedinstructions/input to advance the game state; etc. In other embodiments,at least a portion of these additional functions may be implemented at aremote system or device.

The at least one portable power source 1068 enables the EGM to operatein a mobile environment. For example, in one embodiment, the EGM 300includes one or more rechargeable batteries.

The at least one geolocation module 1076 is configured to acquiregeolocation information from one or more remote sources and use theacquired geolocation information to determine information relating to arelative and/or absolute position of the EGM. For example, in oneimplementation, the at least one geolocation module 1076 is configuredto receive GPS signal information for use in determining the position orlocation of the EGM. In another implementation, the at least onegeolocation module 1076 is configured to receive multiple wirelesssignals from multiple remote devices (e.g., EGMs, servers, wirelessaccess points, etc.) and use the signal information to computeposition/location information relating to the position or location ofthe EGM.

The at least one player identification module 1077 is configured todetermine the identity of the current player or current owner of theEGM. For example, in one embodiment, the current player is required toperform a login process at the EGM in order to access one or morefeatures. Alternatively, the EGM is configured to automaticallydetermine the identity of the current player based on one or moreexternal signals, such as an RFID tag or badge worn by the currentplayer and that provides a wireless signal to the EGM that is used todetermine the identity of the current player. In at least oneembodiment, various security features are incorporated into the EGM toprevent unauthorized players from accessing confidential or sensitiveinformation.

The at least one information filtering module 1079 is configured toperform filtering (e.g., based on specified criteria) of selectedinformation to be displayed at one or more displays 1035 of the EGM.

In various embodiments, the EGM includes a plurality of communicationports configured to enable the at least one processor of the EGM tocommunicate with and to operate with external peripherals, such as:accelerometers, arcade sticks, bar code readers, bill validators,biometric input devices, bonus devices, button panels, card readers,coin dispensers, coin hoppers, display screens or other displays orvideo sources, expansion buses, information panels, keypads, lights,mass storage devices, microphones, motion sensors, motors, printers,reels, SCSI ports, solenoids, speakers, thumbsticks, ticket readers,touch screens, trackballs, touchpads, wheels, and wireless communicationdevices. U.S. Pat. No. 7,290,072 describes a variety of EGMs includingone or more communication ports that enable the EGMs to communicate andoperate with one or more external peripherals.

As generally described above, in certain embodiments, such as theexample EGMs 2000 a and 2000 b illustrated in FIGS. 4A and 4B, the EGMhas a support structure, housing, or cabinet that provides support for aplurality of the input devices and the output devices of the EGM.Further, the EGM is configured such that a player may operate it whilestanding or sitting. In various embodiments, the EGM is positioned on abase or stand, or is configured as a pub-style tabletop game (not shown)that a player may operate typically while sitting. As illustrated by thedifferent example EGMs 2000 a and 2000 b shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, EGMsmay have varying housing and display configurations.

In certain embodiments, the EGM is a device that has obtained approvalfrom a regulatory gaming commission, and in other embodiments, the EGMis a device that has not obtained approval from a regulatory gamingcommission.

The EGMs described above are merely three examples of different types ofEGMs. Certain of these example EGMs may include one or more elementsthat may not be included in all gaming systems, and these example EGMsmay not include one or more elements that are included in other gamingsystems. For example, certain EGMs include a coin acceptor while othersdo not.

Operation of Primary or Base Games and/or Secondary or Bonus Games

In various embodiments, an EGM may be implemented in one of a variety ofdifferent configurations. In various embodiments, the EGM may beimplemented as one of: (a) a dedicated EGM in which computerized gameprograms executable by the EGM for controlling any primary or base games(referred to herein as “primary games”) and/or any secondary or bonusgames or other functions (referred to herein as “secondary games”)displayed by the EGM are provided with the EGM before delivery to agaming establishment or before being provided to a player; and (b) achangeable EGM in which computerized game programs executable by the EGMfor controlling any primary games and/or secondary games displayed bythe EGM are downloadable or otherwise transferred to the EGM through adata network or remote communication link; from a USB drive, flashmemory card, or other suitable memory device; or in any other suitablemanner after the EGM is physically located in a gaming establishment orafter the EGM is provided to a player.

As generally explained above, in various embodiments in which the gamingsystem includes a central server, central controller, or remote host anda changeable EGM, the at least one memory device of the central server,central controller, or remote host stores different game programs andinstructions executable by the at least one processor of the changeableEGM to control one or more primary games and/or secondary gamesdisplayed by the changeable EGM. More specifically, each such executablegame program represents a different game or a different type of gamethat the at least one changeable EGM is configured to operate. In oneexample, certain of the game programs are executable by the changeableEGM to operate games having the same or substantially the same game playbut different paytables. In different embodiments, each executable gameprogram is associated with a primary game, a secondary game, or both. Incertain embodiments, an executable game program is executable by the atleast one processor of the at least one changeable EGM as a secondarygame to be played simultaneously with a play of a primary game (whichmay be downloaded to or otherwise stored on the at least one changeableEGM), or vice versa.

In operation of such embodiments, the central server, centralcontroller, or remote host is configured to communicate one or more ofthe stored executable game programs to the at least one processor of thechangeable EGM. In different embodiments, a stored executable gameprogram is communicated or delivered to the at least one processor ofthe changeable EGM by: (a) embedding the executable game program in adevice or a component (such as a microchip to be inserted into thechangeable EGM); (b) writing the executable game program onto a disc orother media; or (c) uploading or streaming the executable game programover a data network (such as a dedicated data network). After theexecutable game program is communicated from the central server, centralcontroller, or remote host to the changeable EGM, the at least oneprocessor of the changeable EGM executes the executable game program toenable the primary game and/or the secondary game associated with thatexecutable game program to be played using the display device(s) and/orthe input device(s) of the changeable EGM. That is, when an executablegame program is communicated to the at least one processor of thechangeable EGM, the at least one processor of the changeable EGM changesthe game or the type of game that may be played using the changeableEGM.

In certain embodiments, the gaming system randomly determines any gameoutcome(s) (such as a win outcome) and/or award(s) (such as a quantityof credits to award for the win outcome) for a play of a primary gameand/or a play of a secondary game based on probability data. In certainsuch embodiments, this random determination is provided throughutilization of an RNG, such as a true RNG or a pseudo RNG, or any othersuitable randomization process. In one such embodiment, each gameoutcome or award is associated with a probability, and the gaming systemgenerates the game outcome(s) and/or the award(s) to be provided basedon the associated probabilities. In these embodiments, since the gamingsystem generates game outcomes and/or awards randomly or based on one ormore probability calculations, there is no certainty that the gamingsystem will ever provide any specific game outcome and/or award.

In certain embodiments, the gaming system maintains one or morepredetermined pools or sets of predetermined game outcomes and/orawards. In certain such embodiments, upon generation or receipt of agame outcome and/or award request, the gaming system independentlyselects one of the predetermined game outcomes and/or awards from theone or more pools or sets. The gaming system flags or marks the selectedgame outcome and/or award as used. Once a game outcome or an award isflagged as used, it is prevented from further selection from itsrespective pool or set; that is, the gaming system does not select thatgame outcome or award upon another game outcome and/or award request.The gaming system provides the selected game outcome and/or award.Examples of this type of award evaluation are described in U.S. Pat. No.7,470,183, entitled “Finite Pool Gaming Method and Apparatus”; U.S. Pat.No. 7,563,163, entitled “Gaming Device Including Outcome Pools forProviding Game Outcomes”; U.S. Pat. No. 7,833,092, entitled “Method andSystem for Compensating for Player Choice in a Game of Chance”; U.S.Pat. No. 8,070,579, entitled “Bingo System with Downloadable CommonPatterns”; and U.S. Pat. No. 8,398,472, entitled “Central DeterminationPoker Game”.

In certain embodiments, the gaming system determines a predeterminedgame outcome and/or award based on the results of a bingo, keno, orlottery game. In certain such embodiments, the gaming system utilizesone or more bingo, keno, or lottery games to determine the predeterminedgame outcome and/or award provided for a primary game and/or a secondarygame. The gaming system is provided or associated with a bingo card.Each bingo card consists of a matrix or array of elements, wherein eachelement is designated with separate indicia. After a bingo card isprovided, the gaming system randomly selects or draws a plurality of theelements. As each element is selected, a determination is made as towhether the selected element is present on the bingo card. If theselected element is present on the bingo card, that selected element onthe provided bingo card is marked or flagged. This process of selectingelements and marking any selected elements on the provided bingo cardscontinues until one or more predetermined patterns are marked on one ormore of the provided bingo cards. After one or more predeterminedpatterns are marked on one or more of the provided bingo cards, gameoutcome and/or award is determined based, at least in part, on theselected elements on the provided bingo cards. Examples of this type ofaward determination are described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,753,774, entitled“Using Multiple Bingo Cards to Represent Multiple Slot Paylines andOther Class III Game Options”; U.S. Pat. No. 7,731,581, entitled“Multi-Player Bingo Game with Multiple Alternative Outcome Displays”;U.S. Pat. No. 7,955,170, entitled “Providing Non-Bingo Outcomes for aBingo Game”; U.S. Pat. No. 8,070,579, entitled “Bingo System withDownloadable Common Patterns”; and U.S. Pat. No. 8,500,538, entitled“Bingo Gaming System and Method for Providing Multiple Outcomes fromSingle Bingo Pattern”.

In certain embodiments in which the gaming system includes a centralserver, central controller, or remote host and an EGM, the EGM isconfigured to communicate with the central server, central controller,or remote host for monitoring purposes only. In such embodiments, theEGM determines the game outcome(s) and/or award(s) to be provided in anyof the manners described above, and the central server, centralcontroller, or remote host monitors the activities and events occurringon the EGM. In one such embodiment, the gaming system includes areal-time or online accounting and gaming information system configuredto communicate with the central server, central controller, or remotehost. In this embodiment, the accounting and gaming information systemincludes: (a) a player database configured to store player profiles, (b)a player tracking module configured to track players (as describedbelow), and (c) a credit system configured to provide automatedtransactions. Examples of such accounting systems are described in U.S.Pat. No. 6,913,534, entitled “Gaming Machine Having a Lottery Game andCapability for Integration with Gaming Device Accounting System andPlayer Tracking System,” and 8,597,116, entitled “Virtual PlayerTracking and Related Services”.

As noted above, in various embodiments, the gaming system includes oneor more executable game programs executable by at least one processor ofthe gaming system to provide one or more primary games and one or moresecondary games. The primary game(s) and the secondary game(s) maycomprise any suitable games and/or wagering games, such as, but notlimited to: electro-mechanical or video slot or spinning reel typegames; video card games such as video draw poker, multi-hand video drawpoker, other video poker games, video blackjack games, and videobaccarat games; video keno games; video bingo games; and video selectiongames.

In certain embodiments in which the primary game is a slot or spinningreel type game, the gaming system includes one or more reels in eitheran electromechanical form with mechanical rotating reels or in a videoform with simulated reels and movement thereof. Each reel displays aplurality of indicia or symbols, such as bells, hearts, fruits, numbers,letters, bars, or other images that typically correspond to a themeassociated with the gaming system. In certain such embodiments, thegaming system includes one or more paylines associated with the reels.The example EGM 2000 b shown in FIG. 4B includes a payline 2152 and aplurality of reels 2154. In certain embodiments, one or more of thereels are independent reels or unisymbol reels. In such embodiments,each independent reel generates and displays one symbol.

In various embodiments, one or more of the paylines is horizontal,vertical, circular, diagonal, angled, or any suitable combinationthereof. In other embodiments, each of one or more of the paylines isassociated with a plurality of adjacent symbol display areas on arequisite number of adjacent reels. In one such embodiment, one or morepaylines are formed between at least two symbol display areas that areadjacent to each other by either sharing a common side or sharing acommon corner (i.e., such paylines are connected paylines). The gamingsystem enables a wager to be placed on one or more of such paylines toactivate such paylines. In other embodiments in which one or morepaylines are formed between at least two adjacent symbol display areas,the gaming system enables a wager to be placed on a plurality of symboldisplay areas, which activates those symbol display areas.

In various embodiments, the gaming system provides one or more awardsafter a spin of the reels when specified types and/or configurations ofthe indicia or symbols on the reels occur on an active payline orotherwise occur in a winning pattern, occur on the requisite number ofadjacent reels, and/or occur in a scatter pay arrangement.

In certain embodiments, the gaming system employs a ways to win awarddetermination. In these embodiments, any outcome to be provided isdetermined based on a number of associated symbols that are generated inactive symbol display areas on the requisite number of adjacent reels(i.e., not on paylines passing through any displayed winning symbolcombinations). If a winning symbol combination is generated on thereels, one award for that occurrence of the generated winning symbolcombination is provided. Examples of ways to win award determinationsare described in U.S. Pat. No. 8,012,011, entitled “Gaming Device andMethod Having Independent Reels and Multiple Ways of Winning”; U.S. Pat.No. 8,241,104, entitled “Gaming Device and Method Having DesignatedRules for Determining Ways To Win”; and U.S. Pat. No. 8,430,739,entitled “Gaming System and Method Having Wager Dependent DifferentSymbol Evaluations”.

In various embodiments, the gaming system includes a progressive award.Typically, a progressive award includes an initial amount and anadditional amount funded through a portion of each wager placed toinitiate a play of a primary game. When one or more triggering eventsoccurs, the gaming system provides at least a portion of the progressiveaward. After the gaming system provides the progressive award, an amountof the progressive award is reset to the initial amount and a portion ofeach subsequent wager is allocated to the next progressive award.Examples of progressive gaming systems are described in U.S. Pat. No.7,585,223, entitled “Server Based Gaming System Having MultipleProgressive Awards”; U.S. Pat. No. 7,651,392, entitled “Gaming DeviceSystem Having Partial Progressive Payout”; U.S. Pat. No. 7,666,093,entitled “Gaming Method and Device Involving Progressive Wagers”; U.S.Pat. No. 7,780,523, entitled “Server Based Gaming System Having MultipleProgressive Awards”; and U.S. Pat. No. 8,337,298, entitled “GamingDevice Having Multiple Different Types of Progressive Awards”.

As generally noted above, in addition to providing winning credits orother awards for one or more plays of the primary game(s), in variousembodiments the gaming system provides credits or other awards for oneor more plays of one or more secondary games. The secondary gametypically enables an award to be obtained addition to any award obtainedthrough play of the primary game(s). The secondary game(s) typicallyproduces a higher level of player excitement than the primary game(s)because the secondary game(s) provides a greater expectation of winningthan the primary game(s) and is accompanied with more attractive orunusual features than the primary game(s). The secondary game(s) may beany type of suitable game, either similar to or completely differentfrom the primary game.

In various embodiments, the gaming system automatically provides orinitiates the secondary game upon the occurrence of a triggering eventor the satisfaction of a qualifying condition. In other embodiments, thegaming system initiates the secondary game upon the occurrence of thetriggering event or the satisfaction of the qualifying condition andupon receipt of an initiation input. In certain embodiments, thetriggering event or qualifying condition is a selected outcome in theprimary game(s) or a particular arrangement of one or more indicia on adisplay device for a play of the primary game(s), such as a “BONUS”symbol appearing on three adjacent reels along a payline following aspin of the reels for a play of the primary game. In other embodiments,the triggering event or qualifying condition occurs based on a certainamount of game play (such as number of games, number of credits, amountof time) being exceeded, or based on a specified number of points beingearned during game play. Any suitable triggering event or qualifyingcondition or any suitable combination of a plurality of differenttriggering events or qualifying conditions may be employed.

In other embodiments, at least one processor of the gaming systemrandomly determines when to provide one or more plays of one or moresecondary games. In one such embodiment, no apparent reason is providedfor providing the secondary game. In this embodiment, qualifying for asecondary game is not triggered by the occurrence of an event in anyprimary game or based specifically on any of the plays of any primarygame. That is, qualification is provided without any explanation or,alternatively, with a simple explanation. In another such embodiment,the gaming system determines qualification for a secondary game at leastpartially based on a game triggered or symbol triggered event, such asat least partially based on play of a primary game.

In various embodiments, after qualification for a secondary game hasbeen determined, the secondary game participation may be enhancedthrough continued play on the primary game. Thus, in certainembodiments, for each secondary game qualifying event, such as asecondary game symbol, that is obtained, a given number of secondarygame wagering points or credits is accumulated in a “secondary gamemeter” configured to accrue the secondary game wagering credits orentries toward eventual participation in the secondary game. In one suchembodiment, the occurrence of multiple such secondary game qualifyingevents in the primary game results in an arithmetic or exponentialincrease in the number of secondary game wagering credits awarded. Inanother such embodiment, any extra secondary game wagering credits maybe redeemed during the secondary game to extend play of the secondarygame.

In certain embodiments, no separate entry fee or buy-in for thesecondary game is required. That is, entry into the secondary gamecannot be purchased; rather, in these embodiments entry must be won orearned through play of the primary game, thereby encouraging play of theprimary game. In other embodiments, qualification for the secondary gameis accomplished through a simple “buy-in.” For example, qualificationthrough other specified activities is unsuccessful, payment of a fee orplacement of an additional wager “buys-in” to the secondary game. Incertain embodiments, a separate side wager must be placed on thesecondary game or a wager of a designated amount must be placed on theprimary game to enable qualification for the secondary game. In theseembodiments, the secondary game triggering event must occur and the sidewager (or designated primary game wager amount) must have been placedfor the secondary game to trigger.

In various embodiments in which the gaming system includes a pluralityof EGMs, the EGMs are configured to communicate with one another toprovide a group gaming environment. In certain such embodiments, theEGMs enable players of those EGMs to work in conjunction with oneanother, such as by enabling the players to play together as a team orgroup, to win one or more awards. In other such embodiments, the EGMsenable players of those EGMs to compete against one another for one ormore awards. In one such embodiment, the EGMs enable the players ofthose EGMs to participate in one or more gaming tournaments for one ormore awards. Examples of group gaming systems are described in U.S. Pat.No. 8,070,583, entitled “Server Based Gaming System and Method forSelectively Providing One or More Different Tournaments”; U.S. Pat. No.8,500,548, entitled “Gaming System and Method for Providing TeamProgressive Awards”; and U.S. Pat. No. 8,562,423, entitled “Method andApparatus for Rewarding Multiple Game Players for a Single Win”.

In various embodiments, the gaming system includes one or more playertracking systems. Such player tracking systems enable operators of thegaming system (such as casinos or other gaming establishments) torecognize the value of customer loyalty by identifying frequentcustomers and rewarding them for their patronage. Such a player trackingsystem is configured to track a player's gaming activity. In one suchembodiment, the player tracking system does so through the use of playertracking cards. In this embodiment, a player is issued a playeridentification card that has an encoded player identification numberthat uniquely identifies the player. When the player's playing trackingcard is inserted into a card reader of the gaming system to begin agaming session, the card reader reads the player identification numberoff the player tracking card to identify the player. The gaming systemtimely tracks any suitable information or data relating to theidentified player's gaming session. The gaming system also timely trackswhen the player tracking card is removed to conclude play for thatgaming session. In another embodiment, rather than requiring insertionof a player tracking card into the card reader, the gaming systemutilizes one or more portable devices, such as a mobile phone, a radiofrequency identification tag, or any other suitable wireless device, totrack when a gaming session begins and ends. In another embodiment, thegaming system utilizes any suitable biometric technology or tickettechnology to track when a gaming session begins and ends.

In such embodiments, during one or more gaming sessions, the gamingsystem tracks any suitable information or data, such as any amountswagered, average wager amounts, and/or the time at which these wagersare placed. In different embodiments, for one or more players, theplayer tracking system includes the player's account number, theplayer's card number, the player's first name, the player's surname, theplayer's preferred name, the player's player tracking ranking, anypromotion status associated with the player's player tracking card, theplayer's address, the player's birthday, the player's anniversary, theplayer's recent gaming sessions, or any other suitable data. In variousembodiments, such tracked information and/or any suitable featureassociated with the player tracking system is displayed on a playertracking display. In various embodiments, such tracked informationand/or any suitable feature associated with the player tracking systemis displayed via one or more service windows that are displayed on thecentral display device and/or the upper display device. Examples ofplayer tracking systems are described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,722,985,entitled “Universal Player Tracking System”; U.S. Pat. No. 6,908,387,entitled “Player Tracking Communication Mechanisms in a Gaming Machine”;U.S. Pat. No. 7,311,605, entitled “Player Tracking Assembly for CompletePatron Tracking for Both Gaming and Non-Gaming Casino Activity”; U.S.Pat. No. 7,611,411, entitled “Player Tracking Instruments HavingMultiple Communication Modes”; U.S. Pat. No. 7,617,151, entitled“Alternative Player Tracking Techniques”; and U.S. Pat. No. 8,057,298,entitled “Virtual Player Tracking and Related Services”.

Web-Based Gaming

In various embodiments, the gaming system includes one or more serversconfigured to communicate with a personal gaming device—such as asmartphone, a tablet computer, a desktop computer, or a laptopcomputer—to enable web-based game play using the personal gaming device.In various embodiments, the player must first access a gaming websitevia an Internet browser of the personal gaming device or execute anapplication (commonly called an “app”) installed on the personal gamingdevice before the player can use the personal gaming device toparticipate in web-based game play. In certain embodiments, the one ormore servers and the personal gaming device operate in a thin-clientenvironment. In these embodiments, the personal gaming device receivesinputs via one or more input devices (such as a touch screen and/orphysical buttons), the personal gaming device sends the received inputsto the one or more servers, the one or more servers make variousdeterminations based on the inputs and determine content to be displayed(such as a randomly determined game outcome and corresponding award),the one or more servers send the content to the personal gaming device,and the personal gaming device displays the content.

In certain such embodiments, the one or more servers must identify theplayer before enabling game play on the personal gaming device (or, insome embodiments, before enabling monetary wager-based game play on thepersonal gaming device). In these embodiments, the player must identifyherself to the one or more servers, such as by inputting the player'sunique playername and password combination, providing an input to abiometric sensor (e.g., a fingerprint sensor, a retinal sensor, a voicesensor, or a facial-recognition sensor), or providing any other suitableinformation.

Once identified, the one or more servers enable the player to establishan account balance from which the player can draw credits usable towager on plays of a game. In certain embodiments, the one or moreservers enable the player to initiate an electronic funds transfer totransfer funds from a bank account to the player's account balance. Inother embodiments, the one or more servers enable the player to make apayment using the player's credit card, debit card, or other suitabledevice to add money to the player's account balance. In otherembodiments, the one or more servers enable the player to add money tothe player's account balance via a peer-to-peer type application, suchas PayPal or Venmo. The one or more servers also enable the player tocash out the player's account balance (or part of it) in any suitablemanner, such as via an electronic funds transfer, by initiating creationof a paper check that is mailed to the player, or by initiating printingof a voucher at a kiosk in a gaming establishment.

In certain embodiments, the one or more servers include a payment serverthat handles establishing and cashing out players' account balances anda separate game server configured to determine the outcome and anyassociated award for a play of a game. In these embodiments, the gameserver is configured to communicate with the personal gaming device andthe payment device, and the personal gaming device and the paymentdevice are not configured to directly communicate with one another. Inthese embodiments, when the game server receives data representing arequest to start a play of a game at a desired wager, the game serversends data representing the desired wager to the payment server. Thepayment server determines whether the player's account balance can coverthe desired wager (i.e., includes a monetary balance at least equal tothe desired wager).

If the payment server determines that the player's account balancecannot cover the desired wager, the payment server notifies the gameserver, which then instructs the personal gaming device to display asuitable notification to the player that the player's account balance istoo low to place the desired wager. If the payment server determinesthat the player's account balance can cover the desired wager, thepayment server deducts the desired wager from the account balance andnotifies the game server. The game server then determines an outcome andany associated award for the play of the game. The game server notifiesthe payment server of any nonzero award, and the payment serverincreases the player's account balance by the nonzero award. The gameserver sends data representing the outcome and any award to the personalgaming device, which displays the outcome and any award.

In certain embodiments, the one or more servers enable web-based gameplay using a personal gaming device only if the personal gaming devicesatisfies one or more jurisdictional requirements. In one embodiment,the one or more servers enable web-based game play using the personalgaming device only if the personal gaming device is located within adesignated geographic area (such as within certain state or county linesor within the boundaries of a gaming establishment). In this embodiment,the geolocation module of the personal gaming device determines thelocation of the personal gaming device and sends the location to the oneor more servers, which determine whether the personal gaming device islocated within the designated geographic area. In various embodiments,the one or more servers enable non-monetary wager-based game play if thepersonal gaming device is located outside of the designated geographicarea.

In various embodiments, the gaming system includes an EGM configured tocommunicate with a personal gaming device—such as a smartphone, a tabletcomputer, a desktop computer, or a laptop computer—to enable tetheredmobile game play using the personal gaming device. Generally, in theseembodiments, the EGM establishes communication with the personal gamingdevice and enables the player to play games on the EGM remotely via thepersonal gaming device. In certain embodiments, the gaming systemincludes a geo-fence system that enables tethered game play within aparticular geographic area but not outside of that geographic area.Examples of tethering an EGM to a personal gaming device and geo-fencingare described in U.S. Patent Appl. Pub. No. 2013/0267324, entitled“Remote Gaming Method Allowing Temporary Inactivation WithoutTerminating Playing Session Due to Game Inactivity”.

Social Network Integration

In certain embodiments, the gaming system is configured to communicatewith a social network server that hosts or partially hosts a socialnetworking website via a data network (such as the Internet) tointegrate a player's gaming experience with the player's socialnetworking account. This enables the gaming system to send certaininformation to the social network server that the social network servercan use to create content (such as text, an image, and/or a video) andpost it to the player's wall, newsfeed, or similar area of the socialnetworking website accessible by the player's connections (and incertain cases the public) such that the player's connections can viewthat information. This also enables the gaming system to receive certaininformation from the social network server, such as the player's likesor dislikes or the player's list of connections. In certain embodiments,the gaming system enables the player to link the player's player accountto the player's social networking account(s). This enables the gamingsystem to, once it identifies the player and initiates a gaming session(such as via the player logging in to a website (or an application) onthe player's personal gaming device or via the player inserting theplayer's player tracking card into an EGM), link that gaming session tothe player's social networking account(s). In other embodiments, thegaming system enables the player to link the player's social networkingaccount(s) to individual gaming sessions when desired by providing therequired login information.

For instance, in one embodiment, if a player wins a particular award(e.g., a progressive award or a jackpot award) or an award that exceedsa certain threshold (e.g., an award exceeding $1,000), the gaming systemsends information about the award to the social network server to enablethe server to create associated content (such as a screenshot of theoutcome and associated award) and to post that content to the player'swall (or other suitable area) of the social networking website for theplayer's connections to see (and to entice them to play). In anotherembodiment, if a player joins a multiplayer game and there is anotherseat available, the gaming system sends that information to the socialnetwork sever to enable the server to create associated content (such astext indicating a vacancy for that particular game) and to post thatcontent to the player's wall (or other suitable area) of the socialnetworking website for the player's connections to see (and to enticethem to fill the vacancy). In another embodiment, if the playerconsents, the gaming system sends advertisement information or offerinformation to the social network server to enable the social networkserver to create associated content (such as text or an image reflectingan advertisement and/or an offer) and to post that content to theplayer's wall (or other suitable area) of the social networking websitefor the player's connections to see. In another embodiment, the gamingsystem enables the player to recommend a game to the player'sconnections by posting a recommendation to the player's wall (or othersuitable area) of the social networking website.

Differentiating Certain Gaming Systems from General Purpose ComputingDevices

Certain of the gaming systems described herein, such as EGMs located ina casino or another gaming establishment, include certain componentsand/or are configured to operate in certain manners that differentiatethese systems from general purpose computing devices, i.e., certainpersonal gaming devices such as desktop computers and laptop computers.

For instance, EGMs are highly regulated to ensure fairness and, in manycases, EGMs are configured to award monetary awards up to multiplemillions of dollars. To satisfy security and regulatory requirements ina gaming environment, hardware and/or software architectures areimplemented in EGMs that differ significantly from those of generalpurpose computing devices. For purposes of illustration, a descriptionof EGMs relative to general purpose computing devices and some examplesof these additional (or different) hardware and/or softwarearchitectures found in EGMs are described below.

At first glance, one might think that adapting general purpose computingdevice technologies to the gaming industry and EGMs would be a simpleproposition because both general purpose computing devices and EGMsemploy processors that control a variety of devices. However, due to atleast: (1) the regulatory requirements placed on EGMs, (2) the harshenvironment in which EGMs operate, (3) security requirements, and (4)fault tolerance requirements, adapting general purpose computing devicetechnologies to EGMs can be quite difficult. Further, techniques andmethods for solving a problem in the general purpose computing deviceindustry, such as device compatibility and connectivity issues, mightnot be adequate in the gaming industry. For instance, a fault or aweakness tolerated in a general purpose computing device, such assecurity holes in software or frequent crashes, is not tolerated in anEGM because in an EGM these faults can lead to a direct loss of fundsfrom the EGM, such as stolen cash or loss of revenue when the EGM is notoperating properly or when the random outcome determination ismanipulated.

Certain differences between general purpose computing devices and EGMsare described below. A first difference between EGMs and general purposecomputing devices is that EGMs are state-based systems. A state-basedsystem stores and maintains its current state in a non-volatile memorysuch that, in the event of a power failure or other malfunction, thestate-based system can return to that state when the power is restoredor the malfunction is remedied. For instance, for a state-based EGM, ifthe EGM displays an award for a game of chance but the power to the EGMfails before the EGM provides the award to the player, the EGM storesthe pre-power failure state in a non-volatile memory, returns to thatstate upon restoration of power, and provides the award to the player.This requirement affects the software and hardware design on EGMs.General purpose computing devices are not state-based machines, and amajority of data is usually lost when a malfunction occurs on a generalpurpose computing device.

A second difference between EGMs and general purpose computing devicesis that, for regulatory purposes, the software on the EGM utilized tooperate the EGM has been designed to be static and monolithic to preventcheating by the operator of the EGM. For instance, one solution that hasbeen employed in the gaming industry to prevent cheating and to satisfyregulatory requirements has been to manufacture an EGM that can use aproprietary processor running instructions to provide the game of chancefrom an EPROM or other form of non-volatile memory. The codinginstructions on the EPROM are static (non-changeable) and must beapproved by a gaming regulators in a particular jurisdiction andinstalled in the presence of a person representing the gamingjurisdiction. Any changes to any part of the software required togenerate the game of chance, such as adding a new device driver used tooperate a device during generation of the game of chance, can requireburning a new EPROM approved by the gaming jurisdiction and reinstallingthe new EPROM on the EGM in the presence of a gaming regulator.Regardless of whether the EPROM solution is used, to gain approval inmost gaming jurisdictions, an EGM must demonstrate sufficient safeguardsthat prevent an operator or a player of an EGM from manipulating theEGM's hardware and software in a manner that gives him an unfair, and insome cases illegal, advantage.

A third difference between EGMs and general purpose computing devices isauthentication—EGMs storing code are configured to authenticate the codeto determine if the code is unaltered before executing the code. If thecode has been altered, the EGM prevents the code from being executed.The code authentication requirements in the gaming industry affect bothhardware and software designs on EGMs. Certain EGMs use hash functionsto authenticate code. For instance, one EGM stores game program code, ahash function, and an authentication hash (which may be encrypted).Before executing the game program code, the EGM hashes the game programcode using the hash function to obtain a result hash and compares theresult hash to the authentication hash. If the result hash matches theauthentication hash, the EGM determines that the game program code isvalid and executes the game program code. If the result hash does notmatch the authentication hash, the EGM determines that the game programcode has been altered (i.e., may have been tampered with) and preventsexecution of the game program code. Examples of EGM code authenticationare described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,962,530, entitled “Authentication in aSecure Computerized Gaming System”; U.S. Pat. No. 7,043,641, entitled“Encryption in a Secure Computerized Gaming System”; U.S. Pat. No.7,201,662, entitled “Method and Apparatus for Software Authentication”;and U.S. Pat. No. 8,627,097, entitled “System and Method EnablingParallel Processing of Hash Functions Using Authentication CheckpointHashes”.

A fourth difference between EGMs and general purpose computing devicesis that EGMs have unique peripheral device requirements that differ fromthose of a general purpose computing device, such as peripheral devicesecurity requirements not usually addressed by general purpose computingdevices. For instance, monetary devices, such as coin dispensers, billvalidators, and ticket printers and computing devices that are used togovern the input and output of cash or other items having monetary value(such as tickets) to and from an EGM have security requirements that arenot typically addressed in general purpose computing devices. Therefore,many general purpose computing device techniques and methods developedto facilitate device connectivity and device compatibility do notaddress the emphasis placed on security in the gaming industry.

To address some of the issues described above, a number ofhardware/software components and architectures are utilized in EGMs thatare not typically found in general purpose computing devices. Thesehardware/software components and architectures, as described below inmore detail, include but are not limited to watchdog timers, voltagemonitoring systems, state-based software architecture and supportinghardware, specialized communication interfaces, security monitoring, andtrusted memory.

Certain EGMs use a watchdog timer to provide a software failuredetection mechanism. In a normally-operating EGM, the operating softwareperiodically accesses control registers in the watchdog timer subsystemto “re-trigger” the watchdog. Should the operating software fail toaccess the control registers within a preset timeframe, the watchdogtimer will timeout and generate a system reset. Typical watchdog timercircuits include a loadable timeout counter register to enable theoperating software to set the timeout interval within a certain range oftime. A differentiating feature of some circuits is that the operatingsoftware cannot completely disable the function of the watchdog timer.In other words, the watchdog timer always functions from the time poweris applied to the board.

Certain EGMs use several power supply voltages to operate portions ofthe computer circuitry. These can be generated in a central power supplyor locally on the computer board. If any of these voltages falls out ofthe tolerance limits of the circuitry they power, unpredictableoperation of the EGM may result. Though most modern general purposecomputing devices include voltage monitoring circuitry, these types ofcircuits only report voltage status to the operating software. Out oftolerance voltages can cause software malfunction, creating a potentialuncontrolled condition in the general purpose computing device. CertainEGMs have power supplies with relatively tighter voltage margins thanthat required by the operating circuitry. In addition, the voltagemonitoring circuitry implemented in certain EGMs typically has twothresholds of control. The first threshold generates a software eventthat can be detected by the operating software and an error conditionthen generated. This threshold is triggered when a power supply voltagefalls out of the tolerance range of the power supply, but is stillwithin the operating range of the circuitry. The second threshold is setwhen a power supply voltage falls out of the operating tolerance of thecircuitry. In this case, the circuitry generates a reset, haltingoperation of the EGM.

As described above, certain EGMs are state-based machines. Differentfunctions of the game provided by the EGM (e.g., bet, play, result,points in the graphical presentation, etc.) may be defined as a state.When the EGM moves a game from one state to another, the EGM storescritical data regarding the game software in a custom non-volatilememory subsystem. This ensures that the player's wager and credits arepreserved and to minimize potential disputes in the event of amalfunction on the EGM. In general, the EGM does not advance from afirst state to a second state until critical information that enablesthe first state to be reconstructed has been stored. This featureenables the EGM to recover operation to the current state of play in theevent of a malfunction, loss of power, etc. that occurred just beforethe malfunction. In at least one embodiment, the EGM is configured tostore such critical information using atomic transactions.

Generally, an atomic operation in computer science refers to a set ofoperations that can be combined so that they appear to the rest of thesystem to be a single operation with only two possible outcomes: successor failure. As related to data storage, an atomic transaction may becharacterized as series of database operations which either all occur,or all do not occur. A guarantee of atomicity prevents updates to thedatabase occurring only partially, which can result in data corruption.

To ensure the success of atomic transactions relating to criticalinformation to be stored in the EGM memory before a failure event (e.g.,malfunction, loss of power, etc.), memory that includes one or more ofthe following criteria be used: direct memory access capability; dataread/write capability which meets or exceeds minimum read/write accesscharacteristics (such as at least 5.08 Mbytes/sec (Read) and/or at least38.0 Mbytes/sec (Write)). Memory devices that meet or exceed the abovecriteria may be referred to as “fault-tolerant” memory devices.

Typically, battery-backed RAM devices may be configured to function asfault-tolerant devices according to the above criteria, whereas flashRAM and/or disk drive memory are typically not configurable to functionas fault-tolerant devices according to the above criteria. Accordingly,battery-backed RAM devices are typically used to preserve EGM criticaldata, although other types of non-volatile memory devices may beemployed. These memory devices are typically not used in typical generalpurpose computing devices.

Thus, in at least one embodiment, the EGM is configured to storecritical information in fault-tolerant memory (e.g., battery-backed RAMdevices) using atomic transactions. Further, in at least one embodiment,the fault-tolerant memory is able to successfully complete all desiredatomic transactions (e.g., relating to the storage of EGM criticalinformation) within a time period of 200 milliseconds or less. In atleast one embodiment, the time period of 200 milliseconds represents amaximum amount of time for which sufficient power may be available tothe various EGM components after a power outage event has occurred atthe EGM.

As described previously, the EGM may not advance from a first state to asecond state until critical information that enables the first state tobe reconstructed has been atomically stored. After the state of the EGMis restored during the play of a game of chance, game play may resumeand the game may be completed in a manner that is no different than ifthe malfunction had not occurred. Thus, for example, when a malfunctionoccurs during a game of chance, the EGM may be restored to a state inthe game of chance just before when the malfunction occurred. Therestored state may include metering information and graphicalinformation that was displayed on the EGM in the state before themalfunction. For example, when the malfunction occurs during the play ofa card game after the cards have been dealt, the EGM may be restoredwith the cards that were previously displayed as part of the card game.As another example, a bonus game may be triggered during the play of agame of chance in which a player is required to make a number ofselections on a video display screen. When a malfunction has occurredafter the player has made one or more selections, the EGM may berestored to a state that shows the graphical presentation just beforethe malfunction including an indication of selections that have alreadybeen made by the player. In general, the EGM may be restored to anystate in a plurality of states that occur in the game of chance thatoccurs while the game of chance is played or to states that occurbetween the play of a game of chance.

Game history information regarding previous games played such as anamount wagered, the outcome of the game, and the like may also be storedin a non-volatile memory device. The information stored in thenon-volatile memory may be detailed enough to reconstruct a portion ofthe graphical presentation that was previously presented on the EGM andthe state of the EGM (e.g., credits) at the time the game of chance wasplayed. The game history information may be utilized in the event of adispute. For example, a player may decide that in a previous game ofchance that they did not receive credit for an award that they believedthey won. The game history information may be used to reconstruct thestate of the EGM before, during, and/or after the disputed game todemonstrate whether the player was correct or not in the player'sassertion. Examples of a state-based EGM, recovery from malfunctions,and game history are described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,804,763, entitled“High Performance Battery Backed RAM Interface”; U.S. Pat. No.6,863,608, entitled “Frame Capture of Actual Game Play”; U.S. Pat. No.7,111,141, entitled “Dynamic NV-RAM”; and U.S. Pat. No. 7,384,339,entitled, “Frame Capture of Actual Game Play”.

Another feature of EGMs is that they often include unique interfaces,including serial interfaces, to connect to specific subsystems internaland external to the EGM. The serial devices may have electricalinterface requirements that differ from the “standard” EIA serialinterfaces provided by general purpose computing devices. Theseinterfaces may include, for example, Fiber Optic Serial, opticallycoupled serial interfaces, current loop style serial interfaces, etc. Inaddition, to conserve serial interfaces internally in the EGM, serialdevices may be connected in a shared, daisy-chain fashion in whichmultiple peripheral devices are connected to a single serial channel.

The serial interfaces may be used to transmit information usingcommunication protocols that are unique to the gaming industry. Forexample, IGT's Netplex is a proprietary communication protocol used forserial communication between EGMs. As another example, SAS is acommunication protocol used to transmit information, such as meteringinformation, from an EGM to a remote device. Often SAS is used inconjunction with a player tracking system.

Certain EGMs may alternatively be treated as peripheral devices to acasino communication controller and connected in a shared daisy chainfashion to a single serial interface. In both cases, the peripheraldevices are assigned device addresses. If so, the serial controllercircuitry must implement a method to generate or detect unique deviceaddresses. General purpose computing device serial ports are not able todo this.

Security monitoring circuits detect intrusion into an EGM by monitoringsecurity switches attached to access doors in the EGM cabinet. Accessviolations result in suspension of game play and can trigger additionalsecurity operations to preserve the current state of game play. Thesecircuits also function when power is off by use of a battery backup. Inpower-off operation, these circuits continue to monitor the access doorsof the EGM. When power is restored, the EGM can determine whether anysecurity violations occurred while power was off, e.g., via software forreading status registers. This can trigger event log entries and furtherdata authentication operations by the EGM software.

Trusted memory devices and/or trusted memory sources are included in anEGM to ensure the authenticity of the software that may be stored onless secure memory subsystems, such as mass storage devices. Trustedmemory devices and controlling circuitry are typically designed to notenable modification of the code and data stored in the memory devicewhile the memory device is installed in the EGM. The code and datastored in these devices may include authentication algorithms, randomnumber generators, authentication keys, operating system kernels, etc.The purpose of these trusted memory devices is to provide gamingregulatory authorities a root trusted authority within the computingenvironment of the EGM that can be tracked and verified as original.This may be accomplished via removal of the trusted memory device fromthe EGM computer and verification of the secure memory device contentsis a separate third party verification device. Once the trusted memorydevice is verified as authentic, and based on the approval of theverification algorithms included in the trusted device, the EGM isenabled to verify the authenticity of additional code and data that maybe located in the gaming computer assembly, such as code and data storedon hard disk drives. Examples of trusted memory devices are described inU.S. Pat. No. 6,685,567, entitled “Process Verification”.

In at least one embodiment, at least a portion of the trusted memorydevices/sources may correspond to memory that cannot easily be altered(e.g., “unalterable memory”) such as EPROMS, PROMS, Bios, Extended Bios,and/or other memory sources that are able to be configured, verified,and/or authenticated (e.g., for authenticity) in a secure and controlledmanner.

According to one embodiment, when a trusted information source is incommunication with a remote device via a network, the remote device mayemploy a verification scheme to verify the identity of the trustedinformation source. For example, the trusted information source and theremote device may exchange information using public and privateencryption keys to verify each other's identities. In anotherembodiment, the remote device and the trusted information source mayengage in methods using zero knowledge proofs to authenticate each oftheir respective identities.

EGMs storing trusted information may utilize apparatuses or methods todetect and prevent tampering. For instance, trusted information storedin a trusted memory device may be encrypted to prevent its misuse. Inaddition, the trusted memory device may be secured behind a locked door.Further, one or more sensors may be coupled to the memory device todetect tampering with the memory device and provide some record of thetampering. In yet another example, the memory device storing trustedinformation might be designed to detect tampering attempts and clear orerase itself when an attempt at tampering has been detected. Examples oftrusted memory devices/sources are described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,515,718,entitled “Secured Virtual Network in a Gaming Environment”.

Mass storage devices used in a general purpose computing devicestypically enable code and data to be read from and written to the massstorage device. In a gaming environment, modification of the gaming codestored on a mass storage device is strictly controlled and would only beenabled under specific maintenance type events with electronic andphysical enablers required. Though this level of security could beprovided by software, EGMs that include mass storage devices includehardware level mass storage data protection circuitry that operates atthe circuit level to monitor attempts to modify data on the mass storagedevice and will generate both software and hardware error triggersshould a data modification be attempted without the proper electronicand physical enablers being present. Examples of using a mass storagedevice are described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,149,522, entitled “Method ofAuthenticating Game Data Sets in an Electronic Casino Gaming System”.

It should be appreciated that the terminology used herein is for thepurpose of describing particular aspects only and is not intended to belimiting of the disclosure. For example, the singular forms “a”, “an”and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless thecontext clearly indicates otherwise. In another example, the terms“including” and “comprising” and variations thereof, when used in thisspecification, specify the presence of stated features, steps,operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude thepresence or addition of one or more other features, steps, operations,elements, components, and/or groups thereof. Additionally, a listing ofitems does not imply that any or all of the items are mutually exclusivenor does a listing of items imply that any or all of the items arecollectively exhaustive of anything or in a particular order, unlessexpressly specified otherwise. Moreover, as used herein, the term“and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of theassociated listed items. It should be further appreciated that headingsof sections provided in this document and the title are for convenienceonly, and are not to be taken as limiting the disclosure in any way.Furthermore, unless expressly specified otherwise, devices that are incommunication with each other need not be in continuous communicationwith each other and may communicate directly or indirectly through oneor more intermediaries.

Various changes and modifications to the present embodiments describedherein will be apparent to those skilled in the art. For example, adescription of an embodiment with several components in communicationwith each other does not imply that all such components are required, orthat each of the disclosed components must communicate with every othercomponent. On the contrary a variety of optional components aredescribed to illustrate the wide variety of possible embodiments of thepresent disclosure. As such, these changes and modifications can be madewithout departing from the spirit and scope of the present subjectmatter and without diminishing its intended technical scope. It istherefore intended that such changes and modifications be covered by theappended claims.

1: A system comprising: a processor; and a memory device that stores aplurality of instructions that, when executed by the processor, causethe processor to: maintain a first gaming establishment account inassociation with a user, and responsive to a gaming establishmentaccount transfer event occurring in association with the first gamingestablishment account: communicate data associated with a request of anamount of funds to be transferred from a second gaming establishmentaccount maintained in association with the user to the first gamingestablishment account, wherein the first gaming establishment account isassociated with a first financial institution account associated with afirst gaming establishment and the second gaming establishment accountis associated with a second, different financial institution accountassociated with a second gaming establishment, and responsive to anapproval of the request of the amount of funds to be transferred fromthe second gaming establishment account, modify a balance of the firstgaming establishment account based on the amount of funds, wherein themodification of the balance of the first gaming establishment accountresults in each of a modification of a balance of the second gamingestablishment account based on the amount of funds transferred to thefirst gaming establishment account, a modification of a balance of thefirst financial institution account based on the amount of fundstransferred from the second gaming establishment account, and amodification of a balance of the second financial institution accountbased on the amount of funds transferred to the first gamingestablishment account. 2: The system of claim 1, wherein the firstgaming establishment is different from the second gaming establishment.3: The system of claim 1, wherein the modification of the balance of thefirst financial institution account and the modification of the balanceof the second financial institution account each occur prior to themodification of the balance of the first gaming establishment account.4: The system of claim 1, wherein the modification of the balance of thefirst financial institution account and the modification of the balanceof the second financial institution account each occur after themodification of the balance of the first gaming establishment account.5: The system of claim 4, wherein the modification of the balance of thefirst financial institution account comprises a portion of a batch ofmodifications of the balance of the first financial account. 6: Thesystem of claim 1, wherein the modification of the balance of the firstfinancial institution account and the modification of the balance of thesecond financial institution account occur at a designated point intime. 7: The system of claim 1, wherein the gaming establishment accounttransfer event occurs in association with the first gaming establishmentaccount responsive to a determination that the first gamingestablishment account lacks an amount of funds to conduct a transactionrequested by the user. 8: The system of claim 1, wherein the firstgaming establishment account comprises a cashless wagering account. 9:The system of claim 8, wherein when executed by the processor after themodification of the balance of the first gaming establishment account,the instructions cause the processor to transfer the amount of funds toa credit balance of an electronic gaming machine. 10: A systemcomprising: a processor; and a memory device that stores a plurality ofinstructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processorto: responsive to a determination to transfer an amount of funds from afirst gaming establishment account maintained in association with a userto a second gaming establishment account maintained in association withthe user: communicate first data to a server of a first gamingestablishment fund management system, the communicated first dataresults in a deduction of the amount of funds from the first gamingestablishment account, communicate second data to a server of a secondgaming establishment fund management system, the communicated seconddata results in an increase of the amount of funds in the first gamingestablishment account, communicate third data to a server of a firstfinancial institution account associated with a first gamingestablishment, the communicated third data results in a deduction of theamount of funds from the first financial institution account, andcommunicate fourth data to a server of a second, different financialinstitution account associated with a second gaming establishment, thecommunicated fourth data results in an increase of the amount of fundsin the second, different financial institution account. 11: The systemof claim 10, wherein the deduction of the amount of funds from the firstfinancial institution account, and the increase of the amount of fundsin the second, different financial institution account each occur priorto the increase of the amount of funds in the first gaming establishmentaccount. 12: A method of operating a system, the method comprising:maintaining, by a processor, a first gaming establishment account inassociation with a user, and responsive to a gaming establishmentaccount transfer event occurring in association with the first gamingestablishment account: communicating data associated with a request ofan amount of funds to be transferred from a second gaming establishmentaccount maintained in association with the user to the first gamingestablishment account, wherein the first gaming establishment account isassociated with a first financial institution account associated with afirst gaming establishment and the second gaming establishment accountis associated with a second, different financial institution accountassociated with a second gaming establishment, and responsive to anapproval of the request of the amount of funds to be transferred fromthe second gaming establishment account, modifying, by the processor, abalance of the first gaming establishment account based on the amount offunds, wherein the modification of the balance of the first gamingestablishment account results in each of a modification of a balance ofthe second gaming establishment account based on the amount of fundstransferred to the first gaming establishment account, a modification ofa balance of the first financial institution account based on the amountof funds transferred from the second gaming establishment account, and amodification of a balance of the second financial institution accountbased on the amount of funds transferred to the first gamingestablishment account. 13: The method of claim 12, wherein the firstgaming establishment is different from the second gaming establishment.14: The method of claim 12, wherein the modification of the balance ofthe first financial institution account and the modification of thebalance of the second financial institution account each occur prior tothe modification of the balance of the first gaming establishmentaccount. 15: The method of claim 12, wherein the modification of thebalance of the first financial institution account and the modificationof the balance of the second financial institution account each occurafter the modification of the balance of the first gaming establishmentaccount. 16: The method of claim 15, wherein the modification of thebalance of the first financial institution account comprises a portionof a batch of modifications of the balance of the first financialaccount. 17: The method of claim 12, wherein the modification of thebalance of the first financial institution account and the modificationof the balance of the second financial institution account occur at adesignated point in time. 18: The method of claim 12, wherein the gamingestablishment account transfer event occurs in association with thefirst gaming establishment account responsive to a determination thatthe first gaming establishment account lacks an amount of funds toconduct a transaction requested by the user. 19: The method of claim 12,wherein the first gaming establishment account comprises a cashlesswagering account. 20: The method of claim 19, further comprising, afterthe modification of the balance of the first gaming establishmentaccount, transferring, by the processor, the amount of funds to a creditbalance of an electronic gaming machine.